PRD celebrates Founding Day
By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 11 Dec: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a ceremonial parade organised on the occasion of the Founding Day of the Prantiya Rakshak Dal (PRD) at Tapovan Road, here, today, and inspected the Guard of Honour on the occasion. The Chief Minister also released the motto of PRD, ‘Ahamsmi Yodhah’, and also distributed assistance to the dependants of PRD volunteers.
Extending his greetings on the founding day, the CM praised the March Past by the PRD personnel.
On this occasion, the CM Dhami also made 5 announcements aimed at welfare of the PRD Jawans. He announced that they would be provided 1 warm uniform and 1 normal uniform every 2 years. He also announced that they would be granted an allowance of Rs 2,500 in place of the existing amount of Rs 1,500 during training and re-training period. He further announced that all registered PRDs deployed on duty would also be given a uniform washing allowance of Rs 200 per duty per day as is given to the Home Guards. Additionally, he stated that the monthly honorarium of Block Commanders posted at development block level will be increased from Rs 600 to Rs 1,000 per month and that of Halka Sardars posted at Nyaya Panchayat level would be increased from Rs 300 to Rs 500 per month. The CM added that the PRD volunteers deployed in disaster rescue work will be given additional honorarium at the rate of Rs 50 per day.
The Chief Minister said that PRD volunteers are helping in bringing positive change in society with their continuous service and dedication. Commendable work is being done by PRD Jawans in social security work, disaster management and traffic regulation. He claimed that many steps have been taken in the interest of PRD volunteers. A government order has been issued for registration of dependants of deceased volunteers. So far, 116 dependants of those deceased have been registered, out of which 70 including 25 women have been provided employment. PRD Welfare Fund Revised Rules have been promulgated in August 2023, in which the amount of financial assistance has been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakhs in case of death on duty during communal riots. Along with this, the compensation payable in case of death while on highly sensitive duty has been increased from Rs 75 thousand to Rs 1.5 lakhs. In case of death while on normal duty, the compensation payable has been increased from Rs 50 thousand to Rs 1 lakh, the CM informed the PRD Jawans. On the recommendation of the officers, a maximum provision of Rs 50 thousand has been made for the loss caused due to natural disaster, which will directly ensure the safety of PRD Jawans. Dhami said that even during the Covid pandemic, PRD volunteers did excellent work, in honour of which the government has given a reward of Rs 6,000 per volunteer to 4651 Jawans.
Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Rekha Arya said that, for the past two years, the founding day of the PRD is being celebrated with great pomp. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, efforts have been made to provide many facilities to PRD volunteers. PRD volunteers have played an important role in the Char Dham Yatra, Kanwad Yatra and during disaster in the state.
On this occasion, local MLA Umesh Sharma ‘Kau’, Special Principal Secretary, Sports and Youth Welfare, Amit Sinha, Director, Youth Welfare, Jitendra Sonkar and other dignitaries were also present.
