Odisha Revises Allowances for Fire & Emergency Service Personnel

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced a revision of various allowances for Fire & Emergency Service personnel across different ranks. The decision, which had been under consideration for some time, was officially approved and notified on Tuesday, bringing significant financial relief to officers and personnel serving in challenging conditions.

As per the revised structure, Fireman Havildars and equivalent ranks who are staying in barracks and not provided with government residential accommodation will now receive house rent allowance (HRA) at rates fixed by the state government. The HRA will be determined based on their place of posting, rather than actual deployment location, aligning their benefits with those of other state government employees.

The special diet allowance for Firemen, Havildars, and equivalent ranks has been increased from ₹900 per month to ₹1,400 per month, recognizing the physically demanding nature of their job.

In a significant move, the motorcycle allowance/mobility allowance earlier granted only to Station Officers and Assistant Fire Officers has now been extended to Assistant Station Officers and equivalent ranks. Additionally, this allowance has been increased from ₹300 per month to ₹1,050 per month.

Similarly, the mobility allowance for Firemen, Havildars, and equivalent ranks has been enhanced from ₹150 per month to ₹300 per month, ensuring better support for personnel who often travel for emergency response duties.

The risk allowance, which acknowledges the hazardous nature of firefighting operations, has been raised from ₹400 per month to ₹1,000 per month for Firemen up to the rank of Assistant Fire Officer.

The revised allowances take effect immediately from the date of the official resolution, providing much-needed financial support to Odisha’s Fire & Emergency Service personnel.