Port Blair, Oct 15: Batting for Home Guard Jawans, the State President of Bharatiya Janata Party, A&N Islands Mr. Vishal Jolly has requested the Lt Governor to hike the salary of Home Guard Jawans.
“Be it scorching heat or pouring rain, they have to perform their duties. They also take up all the tasks that a police constable does. But not many know that home guards are just contractual workers enrolled to ‘assist’ the regular police personnel and earn meager wages for their services,” Jolly said in a press release.
He said that Home Guard Jawans have been working in the department for near about Three Years with a monthly salary of just Rs.8500.
“Will it not be beneficial to the home guards, if the Administration increases their salary depending on their work experience rather keeping a flat pay scale for years?” Jolly questions.
He said that by recruiting home guards, the Police Department has found an easy way to cover the shortage of man power. They are now being employed in almost all duties that a police constable does. Home guards have now become an integral part of the police force, the BJP president said.
“Contrary to their original job description of assisting the personnel for just eight hours, home guards are now being employed in all policing duties. From participating in the security arrangements, night duties to working over time, the department will now find it difficult to work without these people,” Jolly said.
He added that despite donning different hats, home guards are not entitled to basic perks that even private contractual employees enjoy.
“They cannot avail leave nor do they have any medical coverage. If a home guard has to take leave, all He/She can do is to abstain from the job and lose that day’s pay. They are also not covered under any medical or welfare schemes and have to fend for themselves in any eventuality. Besides, they get only two pairs of dresses every year and that too without any further allowances,” Jolly added.
