Seeking effective cooperation and support from Gram Praharis or village watchmen in getting information related to natural disaster, crime and accident at the police station level, Tehri Garhwal SP Mukhtar Mohsin met the Gram Praharies and gave them necessary instructions. Around 286 Gram Praharies attended the meeting. SP Mohsin also heard their grievances and pending demands.SP Mohsin informed the Praharies about their duties and responsibilities and directed them to reach the police station concerned once a month to apprise the police officer of the crimes and the like happening in the villages. He asked them to inform police on time about landslides and accidents.
Along with the locals, they are expected to conduct relief and rescue operations in case of any accident or disaster if police reach the spots late. They should admit the affected persons at local hospitals apart from assisting the victims of suspected crimes to lodge FIR against the accused in the police stations concerned. Praharies should inform the police about the arrival of suspicious persons, criminals, drug or liquor peddlers or gamblers in the villages.The meeting is significant as police admit the important role Gram Praharis play in maintaining law and order in the villages. Praharies informed the SP that they are getting small amount (Rs 500) as salary. They do not have their own uniforms either, they complained. After giving them a patient hearing, SP Mohsin said that he is forwarding their concerns to the state administration for redressal. As of now, he has issued their photo identity cards under police budget and they can procure them from their respective police stations.
Observers opined that even after 14 years since Uttarakhand came up as a state, the village watchmen locally known as Village Praharis who keep vigil in the villages to stop crimes and inform police about them are getting Rs 500 per month as wages and, worse, the payment is irregular.Ram lal, a village watchman, had said recently that they were receiving a frightfully paltry Rs 500 per month as wages. “The payment is also erratic. One can imagine our plight with prices of commodities sky-rocketing. Before 2010, village watchman used to be paid Rs 200 per month.
The state government has remained callous regarding our plight,” he had said, adding that the number of such watchmen working in the state is over 4, 000. Their charter of demands includes increase in wages and regularisation of jobs among others. Besides, each village watchman should be given uniforms.Notably, the institution of village police or village watchmen came into being under Section 47 in the Police Act, 1861. By this section, the authority of district magistrate and district superintendent of police was extended over village police.