In civil defence, the role of Home Guards personnel should be made more effective. Apart from deploying Home Guards personnel in law and order, traffic and other enforcement works, they should be deputed in intelligence agencies too, said Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat at a programme held to mark the Civil Defence and Home Guards Day at town hall in Dehradun on Saturday.
He also announced a hike in duty allowances by `100. The duty allowances of the Home Guards have been increased to `350 from `250 per day. Dress washing allowance has been increased by 50 per cent.
The Chief Minister said that these schemes would be implemented on PRD also. He further said that the concept of civil defence should be expanded with the changing time. Civil defence and Home Guards can play important roles in natural disaster and crimes. Besides, they can spread awareness on other social issues along with their routine work.
The Chief Minister directed the principal secretary MH Khan to draft an action plan for establishing one unit each in the Chinyalisaur, Didihat and Haridwar. Among these units, the Haridwar unit would be used to curb crimes in the city. This would be of assistance to police and intelligence.
The volunteers of civil defence should set examples by fulfilling social responsibilities. We all should have sense of responsibility to work beyond our duty. Civil defence should be understood in a broad perspective beyond the mere call to duty. Volunteers and Home Guards linked to civil defence should inform the Government about the spheres where works can be expanded to.
State Government is eager to extend its spheres of work. Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli, Director General civil defence and Commandant General Home Guards Ram Singh Meena, District Magistrate Chandresh Yadav and others were also present on the occasion.