THE VOLUNTEER: Home Guard Gurudas Kerkar

Chief Minister's Gold Medal for Gurudas Kerkar being presented by the Chief Minister Shri Digambar Kamat on the Occasion of Goa Liberation Day 2008.

GOA HOME GUARDS ORGANISATION & HISTORY

The Home Guard organisation was set up in Goa in the year 1967 with a sanctioned strength of 400 Home Guard volunteers which was later enhanced to 600. However on granting statehood to Goa in the year 1987, strength of 100 Home Guards was allotted to the Union Territory of Daman and Diu thereby retaining strength of 500 Home Guards for Goa State. Recently , the strength of the Home has been sanctioned to additional 250 Home Guard volunteers making the total sanctioned strength to 750. The Home Guard Organisation was established in a full-fledged manner in the year 1981 under the Inspector General of Police/Ex-Officio Commandant General Home Guards & Director Civil Defence. Presently the DGP is the Ex-Officio CGHG & DCD. Home Guards in Goa are governed by the Bombay Home Guards Act, 1947 which was extended in 1965. Home Guard volunteers work on the basis ‘No work – No pay’.

The General supervision and control of Home Guards in the State, vests in the Director General of police, who is Ex-Officio Commandant General of Home Guards and Director Civil Defence. Suitable persons who are fit and willing to serve in the organisation are appointed as Home Guards with the approval of the Commandant General. The Home Guards when called out for duty or training has the same powers, privileges and protection as an Officer of Police.

Home Guard Organisation offers opportunity to the young men and women to serve the society. The eligibility for recruitment of Home Guards are:-
1. Educational Qualifications – Class IV Standard.
2. Age – 20 to 50 years.
3. Should clear medical examination for fitness.

The Commandant General may relax the conditions regarding the age and educational qualifications in suitable cases.
On appointment the term of office of Home guards is three years provided further that a person appointed shall be eligible for re-appointment. A member of Home Guard may continue to be such member until he attains the age of 55 years.

ROLE OF HOME GUARDS
The following roles are assigned to the Home Guards:-a) Serve as an auxiliary to the Police and assist in maintaining internal security. b) Assist the community in any kind of emergency and Air raid, a fire, a flood, an epidemic and so on. c) Organise functional units to provide essential services such as Motor Transport, Pioneer and Engineer groups, Fire Brigade, Nursing Aid, Operation of water and power supply and installations etc. d) Promote communal Harmony and give assistance to the administration in protecting weaker sections of the society. e) Participate in social, economic and welfare activities such as adult education, health and hygiene, development schemes and such other tasks as are deemed useful.

INCENTIVES FOR EMPLOYMENT IN GOVT. SERVICE
In recognition to the services rendered by the Home guards, many states have reserved vacancies of Constables, firemen, Excise Department or jail warden. This state too has already approved reservation of 10% of vacancies in the post of Police constables, Excise Guards, Jail Guard, Firemen and Forest Guard and the said departments have been directed to maintain a hundred points roaster and fill up the reserved vacancies/posts.

DUTY ALLOWANCE
Present duty allowance of Home Guards in Goa State has been raised to Rs. 200/ - per head per day.

The Home Guards organisation is basically voluntary in character, and this concept has been kept in view throughout the organizational set up. A urban Home Guards Company consists of 110 personnel. All the personnel are volunteers. A nucleus of paid staff for command and control is, however authorized at various levels.