CM, HM to be chief guests: DGP

Director General of Police (DGP) Ch Dwaraka Tirumala Rao has announced that Police Commemoration Day will be observed on Monday, October 21, to honour police personnel who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, maintaining law and order and fighting against anti-social elements. He mentioned that two police officers from Andhra Pradesh laid down their lives in service.
Addressing the media at the DGP office on Friday, Dwaraka Tirumala Rao said a memorial parade will be held at Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium in Vijayawada, with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha serving as the chief guests. The commemoration events will begin on October 21 and continue until National Unity Day on October 31. These programmes will be organised in all police districts, commissioners, battalions, and training centres, raising awareness about the sacrifices made by police personnel for national security.
The DGP outlined that the events will include a memorial parade, and visits by senior police officials to the families of deceased personnel to address their concerns and ensure their welfare. Police officers will also visit the hometowns and schools of the martyrs, displaying their photos in police stations from October 22 to 30. An awareness programme, “Open House” (Exhibition), will be held in Vijayawada from October 22 to 31, and in every district headquarters on October 26 and 27. Essay writing and elocution competitions for students, police personnel, and their children will take place from October 24 to 27, while medical camps will be organised at police headquarters and district offices for police personnel and the general public on October 28.
The DGP added that measures are being taken to support the welfare of home guards, including an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh in the event of death while in service and Rs 10,000 for last rites.
DGP Dwaraka Tirumala Rao highlighted that the Andhra Pradesh Police have introduced several welfare initiatives for the families of deceased personnel. Under the Police Salary Package (PSP), insurance coverage for accidental deaths has been increased from Rs 75 lakh to Rs 1 crore, and the ex gratia for natural deaths has been raised from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh.
He also shared that, “Last year alone, Rs 14 crore was disbursed to the families of 132 police personnel under the Police Salary Package. Additionally, Rs 4.70 crore was allocated to strengthen CPC canteens, and an insurance scheme covering Rs 20 lakh to Rs 45 lakh has been reinstated for all police personnel.”
The DGP further stated that the AP Police Welfare Fund, Education Fund, and Widow Fund continue to provide financial support to the children of police personnel through scholarships and merit-based assistance.
For the 2023-2024 academic year, Rs 3.20 crore has been allocated as scholarships to 1,733 children of police personnel.