After a 10-year-long gap, the Himachal Pradesh government has started the recruitment process for 700 home guards to tackle the long-standing manpower shortage in the Home Guards and Civil Defence Department, a government spokesperson stated this on Tuesday.
The decision was approved during the Cabinet meeting held on May 31, and is expected to offer employment opportunities for local youth across the state, the spokesperson added.
Recruitment for Home Guards in Himachal Pradesh has remained stalled for several years, resulting in a significant shortage of personnel that has hampered the department’s ability to meet deployment demands from various government departments, boards, and corporations, he further said.
At present, the state has a strength of around 8,000 Home Guards, but because of the shortfall, the department has not been able to effectively respond to deployment requests.
The Home Guards play a crucial role in assisting the police and civil administration with maintaining law and order, managing traffic, performing election duties, and handling crowd control during festivals and public events. They are also among the first responders during any natural disasters, accidents and forest fires.
The state government has allocated a budget of Rs 24 crore for the remuneration and other related expenses of the new volunteers, the spokesperson said.
With this recruitment, the government aims to strengthen the department’s capabilities and ensure it is better equipped to meet the increasing demands of civil protection and community safety, he added.
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