Policemen Wife Formed Union To Fight For Their Husband's Rights

Afternoon Voice

Mumbai Police is not able to for any union by law so this task is taken up their wife’s to fight for their husbands cause. Around 4900 policeman’s wives are enrolled in this unioun named Police Patni Mahila Sangathan, headed by BJP leader Sunil Rane.

This organization has police wives from Worli and Naigaon Police colony in BDD Chawl is fighting for various issues which policeman faces. Their basic demand is to give the ownership of the police quarters in which they are presently residing. They are also demanding that one of the police son should get reservation or some concession in police recruitment.

According to Deepak Patil an active member of this organization said that “as per 1994 Government Resolution many government employees including PWD, Social Welfare Department Employees got ownership of their official residents then why are Policeman’s not given this facility, when policeman work day and night for the cities safety” he also added that “the family of policeman is staying in very pathetic condition wherein their buildings are 80 years old and is in a dilapidated condition and no one is concerned about it”.

BDD Chawl’s have 160 sq.ft rooms and it is very difficult for a family to accommodate in it. They are under severe tension if some guest comes to their place. Policeman pay Rs 4,500 as rent for this space but don’t get basic facilities like clean and hygienic premises. Whereas other people staying in these chawls get PWD’s cleaning staff twice a day while they pay only Rs17 as rent (But they are owner of that property). One of the wife of Policeman Havsabai Katkade said “We live in a condition which is worst then slum and no one from our department is taking note of it” further she added that “Our husband’s are not allowed to form a union or raise their problems, so we have decided to form an organization on their behalf and fight for our cause”. Another wife of a constable said that “why are we not getting the ownership of our official residents when many other government employees got the ownership in the same locality”.

Many of the families here are staying for more than 30 years and are paying the rent for the same. Some of these families think that they could have got their own house paying EMI instead of paying rent for this house in BDD Chawl. One of the resident added that “we are paying rent for this 160 sq.ft room for 30 years but when my husband will retire the police department will throw us out of this colony” said Radha Kale. Some places where two policemen are staying in same room, the deduction of rent is done from both of their salaries.

Police Patni Mahila Sangathan is planning to protest in Azad Maidan if their demand is not fulfilled and they are also planning for a grandt dharna outside Vidhan Bhawan during this budget session of Maharashtra Assembly. They have also held a meeting with leader of opposition Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Mr Eknath Khadse and he has assured to raise their questions in this session.