Saturday, October 11, 2014

Home Guards

                          A Reliable And Performing Force
                             
Directorate of  Director General of Civil Defence (DGCD) was established in the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1962 in Government of India to handle Civil Defence and its running partners Home Guards (HG) and Fire service.  It deals in HG policy and planning in respect of role, target, raising, training, equipment, establishment and financial assistance.
HG is a voluntary force  and  works on the motto of national social service. It is raised in December,1946 to assist the police in controlling civil disturbance and communal riots.  The role of HG is to serve as an auxiliary to the police in maintenance of internal security, help the community in any kind of emergency such as an air-raid, fire, cyclone, earthquake, epidemic etc.
HG are of two type-rural and urban. Total strength of  Home Guards in the county is 5,37,793. Against this, the raised strength is 4,86,401. This organisation is  spread in all states and Union Territories expect in Kerala. Eighteen Border Wing Home Guards Battalions are raised in the border states. It serves as an auxiliary to Border Security Force for preventing infiltration on the international borders/coastal areas etc. 
Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards Acts and rules of the states and Union Territories. Normal tenure of  membership is 3 to 5 years.  Amenities and facilities given to HG include free uniform and washing allowance, free boarding and lodging during training, cash awards and medals for gallantry, distinguished and  meritorious services.
A HG whenever called out for duty and training is paid allowance for pocket expenses on per day basis.  HG are  trained in police  to make them learn deferent duties of  police. In the event of national emergency, some  portion of Civil Defence work is also entrusted to the HG.
The Ministry of  Home Affairs formulate the policy in respect of role, target, raising, training, equipping, establishment  and other important matters of  HG organisations.  Expenditure on HG is shared by Centre and State Governments as per existing  financial policy.
The government of  Uttar Pradesh has a  Home Guard Ministry headed by a Hon'ble cabinet minister.  The  HG department  is headed  by a principal secretary. This department has only one section. To assist and carry on the work of the department, special, joint, deputy, under secretaries are posted. Section is headed by a section officer  and assisted by  UDA.
HG directorate works under the command of a Commandant General HG and its head office is located at Lucknow.  Many senior officers are posted from Indian Police services and Commandant  Home Guards cadre. For administrative control whole state  is divided into two part - east and west. Each part is headed by a senior officer with headquarters at Allahabad  and Agra  respectively.
A  divisional commandant HG is posted in each divisional headquarters. He looks after the affairs of all district commandants under his jurisdiction.  A district commandant HG heads the district level working of the department. Three district have the City Commandant- Lucknow, Agra, Varanasi.
Home Guards are trained in routine  to maintain their working efficiency and capacity in order to have desired performance.  A State level training centre is established in Lucknow.  For district manpower training, eleven district training centres are in working at divisional headquarters.
HG office is in all districts. Fifty eight district commandants are leading the district level activities.  U P  has 1,17,009 home guards which includes 10,000 rifle trained and 3417  females.  Government of India bears 25% of expenditure of mutually approved  strength and financial budget.  
Heera Lal  (Views are personal and  based on different sources)



 Reference:
1. http://dgcd.nic.in/directorate_General1.htm
2. http://information.up.nic.in/Module_View.aspx?id_view=114
3. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Chief-minister-announces-sops-for-home-guards-doubles-honorarium/articleshow/17579541.cms
4. http://homeguards.up.nic.in/
5. http://india.wikia.com/wiki/Indian_Home_Guard
6.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Guard_(India)




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