Services of Fire and Rescue dept staff hailed

“The Fire and Rescue Department employees risk their lives and save the people and their belongings during the natural calamities and during major accidents. People joining in such uniformed services should feel proud of themselves and we too are feeling proud of you,” said Palaniswami, after distributing appointment orders to the newly joined policemen, at a function, in Chennai.

He also said that the shortage in police force is marginal and the government is filling up the vacancies quickly. “Last year, 15,621policemen and this year 6,119 policemen were recruited. Due to the mass recruitment the vacancy in police department had gone less than 5 per cent,” said Palaniswami.

Out of the 6,119 policemen, 5,531 were recruited for police department, 351 for prisons department and 237 for Fire and Rescue department. Since 2011, 1,112 sub-inspectors and 32,905 grade-II constables were recruited and apart from that 9,140 youth brigades recruited by the government, 8,569 were promoted to grade-II constable post in 2016-17.

Palaniswami also praised policemen and compared them with Scotland Yard. He also recalled the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s, statements comparing them with Army men for protecting the people in the state just like Army men protecting the country by guarding the borders.

Subashri, a transgender,who was recruited as grade-II constable, was given appointment order by Palaniswami. She is the sixth transgender to be recruited in the police department, said police officials. Earlier, Yashika created sensation by becoming the first transgender police sub-Inspector in the state. After getting the appointment order, Subashri, who was on cloud nine, said, “I will work for the upliftment of transgender community toshow people that transgendersare nothing short of talentand will develop if properguidance and support is givento them.”

Chief Minister Palaniswami also released a book on martyrs of police department. The book titled ‘Valiant Heroes of Tamil Nadu Police’ was released by Palaniswami and was received by a widow of a police martyr.