MUMBAI: Nearly 300 police personnel across Maharashtra who were awarded the President’s medal in 2023 or later in recognition of their outstanding/ distinguished record in service have not received their medals so far.
Two of the awardees have died in the interim; yet, there is no clarity on when the medals may be disbursed, nor any official statement regarding reasons for delay, police sources told Hindustan Times.
“When the President’s medal was announced for me, my school and college friends arranged a party and felicitated me in a three-star hotel. Since service medals are handed to awardees by the Governor in every state, the constable even visited the Lok Bhavan in Mumbai to inquire about the matter. Every year, on the eve of Republic Day and Independence Day, the President approves service medals for police, fire, home guard, and correctional services personnel; and gallantry medals for the armed forces and the central armed police forces. Gallantry medals are ceremoniously awarded to recipients by the President, while service medals are given out by the Governors of respective states. The selection criteria for service medals is stringent, as candidates must have an impeccable service record and they must have received the Director General’s insignia. From the home ministry, the names are forwarded to the President for approval. “We have one now.
But today, when they ask me about the medal, I have no answers as I have not yet received it,” said a retired police constable whose name was approved for a President’s medal for distinguished service on the eve of the Independence Day in 2024.
“But I did not get any positive answers,” he told Hindustan Times. “Getting a President’s medal is very prestigious as it gives you a feeling of honor and shows that your hard work and service is appreciated,” said the retired constable. “Yet, only some make it to the list of awardees the state government sends to the Ministry of Home Affairs,” the retired constable said. A senior officer from the DGP’s office said on condition of anonymity that service medals could not be disbursed as Maharashtra did not have a permanent governor. We will hold a programme after the rainy season, since it will take place on the lawns of Lok Bhavan,” the officer said.
