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Rupin Sharma exhorting the Home Guards personnel on December 6.[/caption]
Dimapur, Dec. 6: The Nagaland Home Guards and Civil Defence celebrated its annual meet cum Raising Day 2016 closing programme on Tuesday at Central Training Institute, Toluvi, in Dimapur district with Rupin Sharma, Director General of Home Guards and Civil Defence, as the chief guest.
Addressing the State Home Guards and Civil Defence personnel, the Director General asserted that Home Guards in other States are very active adding the State’s Home Guards are no lesser in performance while extending a hand to the Police department or the Traffic police despite with meagre salary.
“The Home Guards are the finest personnel who are performing their duties parallel with the police at times of controlling people and other traffic duties,” he said.
With the announcement of Supreme Court that salary of Home Guards personnel should be at minimum with the police department, Sharma informed that there is a proposal with the State government for salary raise. Stating that the State government has also approved to the proposal, the Director General expressed optimism that the personnel would performance better.
He also pointed out that the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) and Home Guards work are not systematic unlike the United Nations (UN) standard evacuation plan.
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Parade contingent of the Home Guards personnel[/caption]
Stating that training facilities in the State was lacking, he said the department will work out in providing modern art facilities.
Considering inadequate personnel in the State Home Guards and Civil Defence, Government of India (GOI) has suggested 23,000 standing reserves for Nagaland Home Guards and Civil Defence to be trained so that there can be more assistance in times of disaster, natural calamities and unfortunate incidents. It may be noted that the State Home Guards and Civil Defence currently has around 900 working personnel only.
In a message signed by the State Governor PB Acharya that was read by District Commandant Wokha, Avinuo, called on the personnel to avail the Prime Minister’s Social Security Schemes namely ‘Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana,’ ‘Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojan,’ ‘Atal Pension Yojana’ and ‘Jan Dhan Yojana’ to secure themselves and their loved ones. The message also commended their role in assisting the country from external aggression and assisting the civil administration.
The message by State Chief Minister TR Zeliang also conveyed that the Home Guards and Civil Defence organisation has been doing commendable service to the nation since its inception. The chief minister expressed contentment over the dedicated State Disaster Response Force being raised from the Civil Defence and Home Guards in various districts to respond in time of natural and manmade calamities and emergencies.
