look news india
Kalanaur: Apart from the long fight against terrorism with the police and BSF, about 385 home guard jawans have been martyred across Punjab in the attack on Pathankot airbase and in the security of the country and even today the Punjab Police is doing its duty shoulder to shoulder with full dedication. But for a long time, the demands of these home guard jawans are not being met.
According to the information received, 6 battalions have been deployed under the Border Wing of Home Guard in the border districts of Gurdaspur, Batala, Amritsar, Patti Ferozepur and Fazilka related to the India-Pakistan international border passing through Punjab.
According to sources in the Home Guard Department, during the period of terrorism, about 1200 soldiers were deployed in each Home Guard battalion, but after the period of terrorism ended in Punjab, this situation has persisted due to lack of recruitment of Home Guard soldiers. The number of soldiers in the Home Guard battalion in the border wing of Home Guard in the border district Gurdaspur is about 300, apart from this there are 250 in Batala, about 150 in Amritsar, about 200 in Patti, about 300 in Ferozepur and about 200 in Fazilka. Out of the Havildars, about 10,000 Home Guards are currently on duty in the whole of Punjab. Some Home Guard jawans, keeping their names confidential, told that during terrorism in Punjab, the then government, while maintaining peace in Punjab, had recruited Punjab Police jawans as well as SPOs, assistant constables and home guard jawans. He said that at that time SPOs, additional constables and home guard jawans were hired on Rs 30 per day and Rs 900 per month, while at present Home Guard jawans are getting only Rs 1169 and 56 paise as daily wages.
He said that SPOs and Home Guard jawans along with Punjab Police had made a significant contribution in eliminating terrorism and after that SPOs and additional constables were recruited in Punjab Police, PAP and IRB under which these recruited jawans started getting all the government facilities along with paramilitary forces. Whereas the Home Guard jawans have not been able to get the same facilities as the police jawans till now. Even the Home Guard jawans who served during terrorism have been retired, but the Home Guard jawans who sacrificed their youth for the country have neither received pension nor have they been recruited in the Home Guard. Home Guard jawans say that due to shortage of jawans in the police stations, the police is taking additional duty from the Home Guard jawans. Whereas they have been deprived of the facilities provided by the government.
Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann had promised to provide paramilitary facilities to Home Guard jawans: Rakesh Sharma
Home Guard Welfare Association Punjab General Secretary Rakesh Sharma and District President PC Rakesh Kumar jointly said that the Home Guard jawans are working shoulder to shoulder with the Punjab Police and other forces to eliminate terrorism and restore peace in the country and are performing their duties diligently. These jawans are not getting the pension facility and basic DA, free travel facility etc. under the Sixth Pay Commission as per the order of the Supreme Court. Before the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab, Aam Aadmi Party Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had promised the Home Guard Welfare Association Punjab that these jawans would be provided para-military facilities every month. Rakesh Sharma said that till now the Home Guard Welfare Association Punjab has met the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Finance Minister and other top leaders of the party but unfortunately the demands of the Home Guards have not been met yet. Rakesh Sharma said that if the Aam Aadmi Party government does not accept the demands of the Home Guards, then the Home Guard Welfare Association Punjab, the families of the Home Guard jawans and the families of the Home Guards will join the Aam Aadmi Party. -Will oppose Dera Baba Nanak constituency