Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that women will now be inducted into the Fire Services, highlighting that the Himachal Pradesh government is focused on empowering women.
He announced this while presiding over the 63rd Raising Day of the Himachal Pradesh Home Guards and Civil Defence in Shimla on Saturday. Sukhu said recruitment to the force would begin soon and that the government would make the required changes in recruitment rules to allow women to join the Fire Services.
He also said that the state government has extended maternity leave benefits to women home guards, giving them essential support and job security during maternity. Sukhu congratulated the personnel of the Home Guards, Civil Defence, Fire Services and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) for their work.
According to an official statement, the Home Guards and Fire Services carried out 708 search-and-rescue operations during the year and saved 448 lives.
The forces also helped protect property worth Rs 2,000 crore from damage, and the department restored 1,035 water bodies. Honouring various units and personnel for their exceptional service, Sukhu said that the state government is taking steps to further strengthen the Department of Home Guards and Civil Defence.
He said that during the government’s current tenure, four new fire stations have been set up at Deha, Ubadesh, Nerwa and Indora. A total of 27 new fire tenders have been bought, and 150 new posts have been sanctioned to operate these units this year, the statement added.
The government has provided Rs 55 crore under the Fire Services Modernisation Scheme and supplied the SDRF with advanced equipment worth Rs 6 crore to increase its operational strength. This new equipment includes drones for aerial surveys, search missions and monitoring disaster-prone areas, helping improve preparedness and response.
The Department of Home Guards and Civil Defence also held a ‘Safe Himachal’ demonstration that showed fire-fighting and search-and-rescue mock drills. Additional Director General Satwant Atwal Trivedi said the Home Guards and Fire Services conducted nearly 11,000 mock drills and 3,000 awareness camps, training around two lakh people.
On this occasion, Sukhu also launched the ‘Miracle of Mind’ mobile app. The app, developed in collaboration with the Isha Foundation, aims to support the state’s efforts against drug abuse.
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