Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 23: A delegation of National Home Guard Welfare Association (NHGWA) met Director General (DG) of Home Guards and submitted him a memorandum of their demands.
The delegation demanded implementation of the 2015 Supreme Court order which directed that Home Guards should be paid duty allowance and minimum wages at par with Police Constables.
It also pressed for the extension of essential service benefits, including EPF, DA, HRA, Health Insurance, pension, gratuity and compassionate appointment.
NHGWA delegation reminded the Government of PM Modi’s 2014 assurance in J&K to mainstream Home Guards and expressed disappointment over the lack of progress even after a decade.
It also pointed to the unfulfilled promise of amending service rules made during the 14th All India Home Guards & Civil Defence Conference in Gandhinagar (2024).
The Association criticized the continued classification of Home Guards as ‘volunteers’ despite their involvement in law enforcement, traffic management, and disaster response duties.
Referring to Uma Devi and Karnataka case’s Supreme Court judgments, the delegation demanded that Home Guard Act be amended to provide them Government employee status.
The memorandum concluded with an appeal for swift policy action to ensure justice and dignity for lakhs of Home Guard personnel who serve the nation without adequate recognition.
The memorandum was signed by delegation members including NHGWA Chairman, Jhalkan Singh Rathor; president, Manoj Kumar Kapila; senior vice president, Joginder Chodiya; vice presidents, Kamla Sharma and Mukesh Dwivedi; general secretary, Raj Shekhar; secretary, Rakesh Kumar and press secretary, Anirudh Dixit.
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