Updated on: Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Contrary to popular perception that Indian Police Service (IPS) is an elite all-India service, 30 officers of the cadre have left the top policing job for greener pastures in the last three years.
Attractive salary in private sectors, challenging nature of the job, uneasiness in allotted cadre and disparity in services are some of the key reasons for many IPS officers leave the job mid-career. A total of 12 IPS officers quit their jobs in 2008, while the figure stood at 10 and eight in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
Several IPS officers said disparity in the services, long posting in disturbed areas, challenging nature of the job and better opportunity in the private sector could be the reason for the attrition in IPS cadre.
"Service condition should be improved and made on a par with other all India cadres. IPS officers throughout their career work on the field and they should be compensated, else the problem of attrition will remain," said an officer. Though steps are being taken to the vacancy positions of the IPS officers, no major step has been taken to stop their attrition.
Given the shortage of IPS officers at the SP-level in many state cadres and taking into account the average attrition rate, the government has increased the annual batch-size from 130 to 150. Steps are also being taken to allow young officers of paramilitary and army to join IPS through limited departmental examination.