Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, April 18: A laudable step is being taken by the establishment of the Director General of Police (DGP) led by DGP Rupin Sharma to regulate exorbitant rates of money lending interest charged by private money lenders.
Specifically, the Nagaland police has constituted a committee to look into aspects of better management of Nagaland Police Risk Insurance Scheme (NPRIS) and whether short-term loans of restricted / limited amounts can be given to policemen and staff from the NPRIS to ensure their general financial well-being.
According to an order issued by DGP Sharma "during my discussions and interactions with police personnel across all units of Nagaland Police personally, it is learnt that our jawans and staffs have the habit of taking loans from private money lenders. These private money lenders charge interest at exorbitant rates of up to 25% per month from our jawans and staffs."
'It is also learnt that sometimes the unit commanders and drawing and disbursing officers are facilitating in deducting the principle amount and interest money from the salaries of the jawans in cash before demitting the salaries to the bank accounts of the respective employee," the order reads.
The degree of financial literacy in the past is not up to the mark and this has created not only financial problems but also fostered other ills in the management of the force. Besides it is adversely impacting the family lives of the policemen and staffs, it stated.
In a telephonic interaction with the Eastern Mirror, DGP Sharma said that the department has set up a mechanism though which the committee would submit reports in about ten days. He said that the department will ensure that guidelines will be in accordance with the Nagaland Money Lenders Act of 2005.
According to the order the members of the committee are: ADG (L&O) Renchamo P Kikon, IGP (HQ) Sandeep Tamgadge, IGP (Range) Wabang Jamir, IGP (NAP) Tokiumong Yim, DIG (HQ) Joseph Hesso; commandant of the 4th NAP Rothihu Tetseo; and commandant of the NAPTC L Ben Longkumer.
The committee shall submit its report latest by April 25 2018 positively, the order dated April 18, reads.
