Mangaluru: Proceeds from the sale of the police flag that goes to Police Welfare Fund has helped 48 retired personnel in Dakshina Kannada district to get ₹5,26,486 towards their healthcare during 2017-18, said Superintendent of Police B.R. Ravikanthe Gowda.

While ₹3,60,938 was paid by the Manglauru Police Commissionerate to 30 police personnel, ₹1,65,548 was paid by the Dakshina Kannada police to 18 personnel, he said. While 50% of the proceeds from sale of flags are earmarked for retired police personnel, 25% are meant for serving officers of the respective of the units, and balance 25% goes to the welfare of personnel from central police forces.

Speaking at the Police Flag Day celebrations here on Monday, Mr. Gowda said ₹13,99,258 was the total deposit in the Mangaluru City Police Retired Police Welfare Fund. At the same time, the district unit had ₹10.5 lakh deposits in its funds. The two police units have received flags worth ₹10.6 lakh from the State police headquarters this year, the SP added.

Mr. Gowda said last year ₹1.58 lakh from the police welfare fund was spent towards education of children of policemen, while ₹25,800 was spent for purchase of spectacles.

He said he has approved the proposal for expansion of the building housing Retired Police Officers’ Association functioning in the City Armed Reserve grounds.

He has also approved the grant for purchase of television and addition of a few recreational facilities at the association office, Mr. Gowda said.

In his presidential address, Inspector-General of Police (Western Range) J. Arun Chakravathy asked the public to work with the police in making the new police beat system effective. Police Commissioner T.R. Suresh also spoke.

Earlier, there was a march past by six teams of district and city reserve police personnel led by probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police Haky Akshay Machindra and Reserve Police Sub Inspector Ganesh. As many as 52 serving and retired personnel were felicitated. Four children of policemen were felicitated by Nalini Bhandary, sister of former Superintendent of Police Late Bola Pushparaj Shetty, for their academic performance in class 10, II year PU and engineering examinations.