THRISSUR: Fire force personnel take all the risk in the world to rescue lives on a daily basis but only gets paid a monthly risk allowance of Rs 200. Meanwhile, the Union government has decided to increase the risk allowance of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) employees to 40 percent of their basic salary. This is in addition to salary.

Central and state governments have turned their backs on the 5000 firemen in Kerala who are working in similar conditions. For the past 10 years, firemen were allowed benefits including 50 percent tax deduction at police canteens, but that also has been stopped from April.

There are no fire service personnel in the central government's list of beneficiaries. The employees have requested the Centre through the state government to restore the benefit.

Work even on Sundays

Fire force personnel have been rescuing people trapped in trees and elevators to days-long firefighting in cases like the Brahmapuram fire. They were also active during Covid, flood and natural calamities. The employees complain that they are only paid salary of LD clerks despite being active on Sundays. There is also VIP duty for festivals, festivals etc. Many were killed and injured during rescue operations.s