THE VOLUNTEER: 2014

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

DGP PRESENTS DGCD COMMENDATION DISC TO HOME GUARD OFFICERS

CAPTION:

DGP SHRI T. N. MOHAN IS SEEN PINNING THE DGCD COMMENDATION TO HON. COMPANY COMMANDER OF HOME GUARDS SHRI JOHN AGUIAR AT A SIMPLE FUNCTION HELD IN THE DGP'S CHAMBER ON APRIL 25, 2015.

DGP PRESENTS DGCD COMMENDATION DISC TO HOME GUARD OFFICERS

The Director General of police Shri T. N. Mohan who is also the ex-Officio Commandant General of Home Guards and Director Civil Defence , Goa presented the DGCD Commendation Disc and Certificate to Hon. Company Commander of Home Guards Shri John Aguiar Platoon Commander Shri Suresh Patekar at a simple investiture ceremony in the DGP’s chamber On April 25, 2014.

Director General of Civil Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi has sanctioned the DGCD's Disc and Commendation Certificate in favour of Shri John Aguiar and Shri Patekar on December 6, 2013.

DIGP Shri K. K. Vyas, Dr. O. P. Mishra and Shri Bhram Singh were present for the function.

The DGP Shri Mohan commended the services of Shri Aguiar and Patekar and wished them all the success in their future endavours.

Apart from being the Hon Company Commander in Home Guards Shri Aguiar is also the Public Relations Officer of Goa Police Department. He is the Assistant Information Officer (Publicity) in his parent Department of Information & Publicity, Government of Goa.

Besides raising and training of Home Guards and Civil Defence volunteers from time to time, and delivering lectures on Emergency methods of Rescue and disaster preparedness to the NCC cadets and schools students, Shri Aguiar has also attended to casualties of accidents and assisted the police and civil authorities during in times of emergency. Shri Aguiar has also attended at course at National Civil Defence College , Nagpur in Disaster Management in December 2012. He is the recipient of both Chief Minister’s Home Guard Gold medal for meritorious service in 2007and Presidents Home Guard Medal for Meritorious Services in 2012.

Shri Patekar has served in the organization for 37 years. He has undergone training courses at Mumbai in 1985 and 1986 and has successfully completed the Basic Fire Fighting & Rescue Operation training Course. He is recipient of Presidents Home Guard Medal for Meritorious Services in 2006. Shri Patekar has undergone several instructor training courses in Maharsahtra. He is staff of Directorate of Archives.

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.