Home Guard Maharashtra.
Wherever there have been riots, festivals, arrangements have to be made in the Naxal-affected areas, or the police and the government remember the Home Guard. However, if this force is to be strengthened financially, then the reasons are given that the treasury is being burdened. Even now, the government has stopped giving increase in various allowances to home guards citing similar reasons. The reason for this is that the financial burden on the state will increase significantly. Due to the Chief Minister's Ladki Bahin Yojana, the cost of many schemes has been reduced. It has affected the increase in the allowance received by the home guards.
On Ganeshotsav, the help of Home Guards is taken on a large scale across the state for 10 days and for the arrangement of immersion procession. But they are being paid back.
The main duty of the Home Guard Association is to act as an auxiliary force to the police force to maintain internal security. However, the force has to perform many duties other than acting as an auxiliary force for peace and order. Accordingly, the Home Guard Organization is employed during various types of situations such as fire, rescue, flood, earthquake, storm, etc. The Home Guards Association has to take the responsibility of keeping the essential services running and the supply of essential goods intact during emergency or strike situations.
Just like the police, home guards can't protest together. Therefore, their demands always depend on the rulers and superiors. The Director General of Home Guards had sent a proposal to the Maharashtra government regarding the increase in various allowances of Home Guards. Due to rising inflation, it is necessary to provide the necessary financial help to the home guards to live their lives. Young people are not ready to work as a home guard due to insufficient allowance. A proposal was sent to the government that allowances need to be increased to attract them to home guards.
The Finance Ministry has rejected the proposal. He said that in the budget of 2024-2025, various schemes have been announced to provide financial assistance and opportunities for progress to women, farmers, youth, backward classes and all weaker sections of the society. This will put enormous financial burden on the state. Therefore, the Finance Department is of the opinion that it is necessary to consider postponing the proposal submitted by the department for some time or keeping it in abeyance at the present stage. Therefore, the government has informed the Director General of Home Guards that the proposal regarding the increase in various allowances of Home Guards in the state is being kept in abeyance at the moment.