THE VOLUNTEER: December 2011

Monday, December 19, 2011

GOVERNOR OF GOA WITH CM'S MEDAL RECEIPENT HOME GUARD VOLUNTEERS ON THE OCCASION OF GOA LIBERATION DAY-2011

GOVERNOR K. SANKARANARAYAN IS SEEN GREETING THE RECEIPENT OF CHIEF ,MINISTERS MEDAL FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICES, HOME GUARD VOLUNTEER SHRI NARAYAN PAGI AND SHRI RAWLU GAWAS ON THE OCCASION OF 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE LIBERATION OF GOA AT RAJ BHAVAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2011. CHIEF MINISTER SHRI DIGAMBAR KAMAT WAS ALSO PRESENT.

CM'S MEDALS TO GOA HOME GUARD VOLUNTEERS ON GOA LIBERATIN DAY -2011

CHIEF MINISTER, MR. DIGAMBAR KAMAT IS SEEN PRESENTING CHIEF MINISTER’S HOME GUARD MEDAL FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICES TO HOME GUARD VOLUNTEER SHRI RAWLU GAWAS, AT THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE LIBERATION OF GOA AT CAMPAL-PANAJI ON DECEMBER 19, 2011.

CM'S MEDALS FOR GOA HOME GUARD VOLUNTEERS -2011

CHIEF MINISTER, MR. DIGAMBAR KAMAT IS SEEN PRESENTING CHIEF MINISTER’S HOME GUARD MEDAL FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICES TO HOME GUARD VOLUNTEER SHRI NARAYAN PAGI, AT THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE LIBERATION OF GOA AT CAMPAL-PANAJI ON DECEMBER 19, 2011.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Goa Home-Guard/ Civil Defence celebrates Raising Day 2011

HOME MINISTER, MR. RAVI S. NAIK IS SEEN INSPECTING THE PARADE AT THE HOME GUARD/CIVIL DEFENCE RAISING DAY PARADE AT POLICE GROUNDS, PANAJI ON DECEMBER 6, 2011. ALSO SEEN ARE DGP, DR. ADITYA ARYA AND PARADE COMMANDER, MR. JOHN AGUIAR.

HOME MINISTER, MR. RAVI S. NAIK IS SEEN INSPECTING THE GUARD OF HONOUR AT THE HOME GUARD/CIVIL DEFENCE RAISING DAY PARADE AT POLICE GROUNDS, PANAJI ON DECEMBER 6, 2011. ALSO SEEN ARE DGP, DR. ADITYA ARYA AND PARADE COMMANDER, MR. JOHN AGUIAR.

HOME MINISTER, MR. RAVI S. NAIK IS SEEN PRESENTING AWARD TO CIVIL DEFENCE VOLUNTEER SHRI PRALHAD MAYEKAR AT THE HOME GUARD/CIVIL DEFENCE RAISING DAY PARADE AT POLICE GROUNDS, PANAJI ON DECEMBER 6, 2011. ALSO SEEN ARE DGP, DR. ADITYA ARYA AND PARADE COMMANDER, MR. JOHN AGUIAR.

Home Minister, Shri Ravi Naik has said that Civil Defence and Home Guard Organizations have assumed great importance in the present global scenario. They have been playing an excellent role in the aftermath of natural and man-made calamities.

Shri Naik was speaking at a function organized on the Raising Day of Civil Defence and Home Guard Organizations at Police Headquarters ground Panjim on December 6, 2011. He said that the twin organizations are wholeheartedly committed to the noble task of selfless service to the community, adding that the volunteers of the organizations have provided excellent service to the people shoulder to shoulder with the police. He hoped that they will continue to work with dedication in future. The enhancement of duty allowance of Home Guards is under consideration he said.

Shri Naik recalled the Chinese aggression in 1962, which led to the raising of Home-guard/Civil Defence to deal with the internal security of vital installations of the country. He said that the new emerging trends surfacing day by day like climatic change, earthquakes have posed unique challenges. He said the changes have to be taken note of to avert the chances of loss of human life and property.

Shri Naik stressed on involving more and more people in the activities of Civil Defence by strengthening the training infrastructure and enhancing the capacity to deal with man-made and natural disasters. He said that organizations have brought awareness among the masses during past several years but there is still need to do much more in this regard. They are upholding the highest tradition of voluntary service, he added.

The Director General of Police, Dr. Aditya Arya said such a big parade of Home Guards and Civil Defence is being held after a gap of 12 years. He read out the Raising Day Messages of Her Excellency the President of India, Prime of India, Union Home Minister, Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and Director General Civil Defence.

On this occasion, an colourful parade was presented by the Home Guard and Civil Defence volunteers which was reviewed by the Home Ministers, Shri Ravi Naik followed by a mock drill on rescue methods and rescue of trapped persons from the building was displayed.

On the occasion, Platoon Commander Smt. Carolina Fernandes, Platoon Commander, Usman Shaikh, LHG Yogita Gauns, HG Nandkumar Anandakke, HG Ajay Kolambkar, HG Instructor Vinayak Rane, HG Instructor Manguesh , CD Volunteers Shri Manjunath Pednekar and Pralhad Mayekar were honoured with trophies in recognition of their selfless services to the organization.

The parade was commanded by Company Commander, Shri John Aguiar. Platoon Commander Shri Suresh Patekar was the assistant Parade Commander while the individual platoons were commanded by Platoon commanders Shri Usman Shaikh, Shri Suresh Priolkar, Shri Maganlal Marathe and Smt. Carol Fernandes, Shri Manjunath Pednekar and Shri Rupesh Parvatkar commanded the Civil Defence contingents.

The function was witnessed among others by Inspector General of police, Shri Sanjay Singh, Deputy Commandant General of Home Guards and Deputy Director Civil Defence Shri D.K. Sawant, SPs Shri Atmaram Deshpande, Shri Arvind Gauns, Shri Vishram Borkar, Shri Vaman Tari, Shri Shekhar Prabhudessai, Shri Om Prakash Kurtarkar, Director, Fire and Emergency services Dr. P.K. John, JSOCD/DCHG Shri Nandakishor Raikar and large number of people from all walks of life.

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.