Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday presided over the 62nd State-Level Raising Day celebrations of the Himachal Pradesh Home Guards and Civil Defence at The Ridge Shimla It was for the first time that this event was being celebrated as a State-level function.
The event witnessed a splendid parade, led by Parade Commander Vinay Kumar, comprising 17 contingents. Platoon commander Lata Rahi led the women contingents, while various contingents from districts of the State displayed their skills under the leadership of their respective commanders.
A Battle March Past by the Home Guard Jawans and a musical performance by the Home Guard band added grandeur to the event. Demonstrations of disaster management techniques on the theme “Surakshit Himachal†by the Home Guards also captivated the audience.
Sukhu announced that Women Home Guards would be provided 180 days of maternity leave, while the daily allowance for Home Guards during deployment outside the State would be increased from Rs. 60 to Rs. 500 and a provision would be made in the next budget. He said that the government would fill 700 vacant Home Guard posts to strengthen the force. Additionally, funds would be allocated for the construction of the SDRF headquarters in Palampur and the Kangra Unit campus and to enhance communication. He also announced the establishment of drone stations at all district headquarters to enhance disaster management capabilities.
He said that the government was improving the SDRF’s infrastructure, designating the Home Guards as First Responders during natural disasters and integrating them under the SDRF for faster response. He said that the 74 company offices and 12 training centres of the Home Guards across the State have been designated as Disaster Response Centers to bolster disaster readiness.
Commandant General of Home Guards Satwant Atwal, welcomed the Chief Minister and provided detailed information about the department’s activities.
