Compensatory package: Martyred prison staff put on equal footing with police

Families of police and prison officials to receive benefits at par in Punjab.

LAHORE:

The Punjab government is likely to provide financial benefits to the families of martyred prison officials at par to the benefits provided to the families of police martyrs.

The move – which stipulates award of compensation worth Rs2 million from the government and Rs1 million from the Punjab Prison Foundation fund – comes with the view that both categories of officials belong to the discipline ‘forces’ and are part of the criminal justice system of the country.

In the past, the families of martyred prison officials had not been liable to receive any financial benefits from the government, an official close to the development said. This would be the first time in the history of the province that the families of martyred prison and police officials would be treated at par with each other, with respect to financial security.

On the demand of prison officials, the home department has submitted a summary to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for the approval of a financial benefit programme which includes free educational facilities for the families and children of martyred prison officials.

According to the package recommended by the task force, the families of prison officials who were killed in encounters, bomb blasts, riots in jails and terrorist attacks would be awarded compensation of Rs2 million from the government and Rs1 million from the Punjab Prison Foundation fund.

Officials incapacitated and released from the service as a consequence of injuries received during encounters, bomb blasts, riots and terrorist attacks while on duty are proposed to receive Rs500,000. The officials who received injuries are to receive Rs300,000 as compensation.

As many as 17 prison officials have lost their lives while on duty in various jails in the last 10 years in the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2011.