Believe it or not but police in the northern Madhya Pradesh state of India actually get paid an allowance for growing a moustache. Such an allowance may seem bizarre to many, especially from modern western cultures, but there was some logic behind the decision.
Moustaches are one of those things that come and go with fads. But let’s face it. Everyone loves and admires a good looking and eccentric stache. From the simple grub above the top lip, to the mutton chops, they add a touch of style that few women can compete with. And surprisingly, they are synonymous with some professions such as firefighters and police officers. Which brings us back to this odd fact that police in India are given moustache pay.
Why are Indian police given moustache pay?
Ask just about anyone what one of the most important things that a police officer must have and a lot of people will say respect. Sure, they can carry a firearm, handcuffs, tasers, capsicum spray and drive a fast car. But without respect, both from the public fellow officers, all of those things are practically worthless. A cop, and a police force that is respected will be obeyed when directed. And that is the thinking behind this ide.Police chief Mayank Jain came about the idea during a seminar when he noticed that the police officers who had moustaches were getting looks of respect from others in the room. So it made logical sense to benefit from this additional respect.
Police chief Mayank Jain came about the idea during a seminar when he noticed that the police officers who had moustaches were getting looks of respect from others in the room. So it made logical sense to benefit from this additional respect.
Any police officer who grows a moustache will be paid an additional 30 rupees a month for their efforts. While it’s not really all that much, only about 60 US cents, it is an incentive to work on growing a little more facial hair. The only catch to the allowance is that the police chief has to inspect the moustaches himself, which I suppose is a little time-consuming.
