Bilal Bhat
Srinagar 20 March 2026: In a powerful and emotionally charged appeal, Dr. Sandeep Mawa has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha to immediately regularise Special Police Officers (SPOs) and ensure a substantial hike in their salaries and risk allowances.
Calling the present system “deeply unjust and morally unacceptable,” Dr. Mawa said that thousands of SPOs in Jammu & Kashmir continue to risk their lives every single day in anti-terror operations while receiving an honorarium that barely allows them to survive with dignity. According to official announcements, a freshly recruited SPO currently receives only around ₹12,000 per month, while even those with years of service receive modest increments based on experience.
The appeal has once again brought attention to the stark disparity between SPOs in Jammu & Kashmir and similarly placed personnel in other parts of the country. While security forces deployed in high-risk zones receive structured pay scales, allowances and long-term job security, SPOs in Kashmir continue to work on a contractual basis despite playing a crucial role in the fight against terrorism for decades. The Jammu & Kashmir government itself has acknowledged that SPOs have “remained at the forefront of the fight against terrorists” and have made significant sacrifices in extremely dangerous situations.
Dr. Mawa said the situation becomes even more disturbing when one looks at the risk allowance being paid to these personnel. “These young men are the first line of defence against terrorism. They face the same bullets, the same threats, and the same danger as regular forces, yet their risk allowance is almost negligible. This is not just a financial issue, it is a matter of dignity and national responsibility,” he said.
He also pointed out that the demand for regularisation of SPOs is not new and has been pending for years. Even after multiple revisions since 2018, the honorarium structure still leaves thousands of families struggling to survive. Earlier, SPOs were receiving as little as ₹6,000 per month, and although the government has increased it over time, the present structure still does not reflect the level of risk involved in counter-terrorism operations.
Making a direct appeal to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, Dr. Mawa said that the nation must stand with those who have stood for the nation during its most difficult years. “These SPOs sacrificed their youth, their safety and in many cases even their lives while protecting the country. The least the government can do is provide them job security, fair salaries and respectable risk allowances. The demand for regularisation is a long-pending demand and it cannot be ignored any longer,” he added.
The issue is once again gaining public attention as families of SPOs continue to struggle with financial insecurity despite years of service. Many observers believe that a decisive intervention from the Centre could not only improve the morale of thousands of personnel but also send a strong message that those fighting terrorism on the ground will not be forgotten.
