The Assam Government adopted a new policy on Personal Security Officers (PSO) deployment on Saturday. The policy decides to reduce the PSO deployment.
It was also decided that from now on, no past chief minister will be entitled to government housing or security.
“Today the state cabinet has decided that no former chief minister shall be entitled to any privileges. My entourage will be half from the day after tomorrow in Guwahati and it will come down to 7-8 vehicles,” Assam chief minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday, January 1, 2022.
The chief minister said PSOs will be only be deployed on the basis of core security review except for constitutional posts like ministers, Chief Secretary, High Court Judges, Deputy Commissioner, Additional Chief Secretary, the state government has taken a completely new stand.
“Today four battalions have been deployed only for providing security. 4240 people have been deployed only on giving personnel security. The Assam government is spending around Rs 400 crore only for providing personnel security, which can’t continue. 2526 PSOs have been deployed for political leaders security, 854 PSOs deployed for the personnel security of retired Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, Commissioner, etc, 546 PSOs deployed for Judicial Officers, 167 PSOs deployed for businessmen, student leaders, 40 for tea estate managers, 52 for former militants,” chief minister Sarma said.
“Now it will be a complete change, security will be categorized like Z, Y security. After the security review, Superintendents of Police (SPs) will have the power to give PSO for only 10 days, DGP, ADGP (SB) will have the power to give security for the maximum period of 30 days, beyond that it has to be approved by the Chief Minister on the basis of the security review committee. So we are going to reduce it to half now. PSO can’t be a status symbol,” he added.
