By OUR STAFF REPORTER
DEHRADUN, 6 Dec: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a ceremonial parade organised on the occasion of Uttarakhand Home Guard and Civil Defence Foundation Day here, today, and inspected the Guard of Honour.
On this occasion, CM Dhami also made a number announcements, while honouring the personnel. He announced that CSD canteen facility will be started for the Home Guards. Special cards would be made for this. He also announced that recruitment would soon be done on 320 new Home Guard posts. A firing range would be established in Premnagar for training of Home Guards and a large number of motorcycles would be purchased for them. Dhami also announced that an incentive amount will be given for duty in high Himalayan areas. Also, a rescue centre and hostel would be constructed for them.
Addressing the home guards and other officials present on the occasion, the CM said that the HGs are a unique example of national service. Appreciating the display of courage, skill and balance by the soldiers on motorbikes at the parade, the Chief Minister said that they are all assets for the state, providing support in various civil services. They contribute to the smooth functioning of law and order.
He added that he had seen the Home Guards personnel controlling the traffic and civil defence arrangements in scorching heat, rain and bitter cold.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister announced that, to provide arms training in the Home Guards Department, an ‘Indoor Firing Range’ would be constructed on available departmental land in Premnagar. Home Guards would also be given 12 casual leaves in a year. A building would be constructed for the company office/ transit camp/emergency search and rescue centre of Home Guards volunteers.
The Chief Minister said that, whether it was the Covid pandemic, any VIP programme or Kanwad Mela or other big events, the selfless manner in which the Home Guard jawans discharge their duties is unprecedented. They are also playing their part in the development of the state. He said that the state government has also given its approval for purchasing small arms like pistols, etc., for the convenience of Home Guards. Along with this, the “Drut” mobile application has been made for the Home Guard Department for disaster relief and rescue operations and to help the general public, which is a very commendable step. Uttarakhand is the first state in the country to launch this app. Taking a historic decision, the state government has allowed maternity leave to women home guards.
The Chief Minister said that six months medical leave has also been recommended for all Home Guards volunteers during their entire service period. For the first time in the state, special training for self-defence has been provided to male and female home guards. The departmental band “Maska Baja” was also established by the Home Guards, which is a commendable effort. The ‘Home Guards Help Desk’ is also doing good work in the state. Recently, a small child of a family who had come to Haridwar to attend Ganga Aarti got separated from his family. The Home Guard Help Desk immediately found him and handed him over to his family, which was a very commendable effort. The Chief Minister said that recently the process of recruitment of 330 women Home Guards has been completed in the state. After training they would soon contribute to the organisation.
On this occasion, the CM also launched a training book prepared for Home Guard volunteers, and an App called Drut made for disaster and rescue work and performed bhoomi pujan for transit camps for various works.
Amitabh Srivastava, Deputy Commandant General, Home Guards, and Rajeev Baloni, Deputy Commandant General, Home Guards, were also presented medals and certificates from the President by the Chief Minister for their meritorious and distinguished service.
On this occasion, MLAs Umesh Sharma ‘Kau’, Khajan Das and Savita Kapoor, Minority Commission Chairman Dr RK Jain, Uttarakhand Mandi Parishad Chairman Dr Anil Dabbu, Additional Chief Secretary Radha Raturi, Acting DGP Abhinav Kumar, Commandant General, Home Guards, Kewal Khurana and other dignitaries were also present.
