Bhubaneswar: Apart from assisting senior officials in routine policing jobs, the home guards in Odisha will now be engaged in disaster management.
As per proposals, the home guards will be imparted special training on disaster management and assistance while a new dress code is also in the offing, informed Director General (Home Guards), BK Sharma.
Sharma said, the new dress code will ensure that the home guards feel more confident and it will encourage them to perform their duties with more dedication.
At present around 17,000 Home Guards are being employed in various areas like maintaining law and order, assisting in Traffic policing, PCR in the State.
“Selected home guards from each district will also be imparted special underwater training at the Ramchandi Underwater Training Centre from February. They will undergo exercises to face challenges during natural calamities such as cyclone and flood,” Sharma informed.
Official sources said, the Home Guards and Fire Services department has sent a proposal in this regard to the State government.
President of Bhubaneswar Home Guards Association, Debendra Mallick welcomed the move saying that “If the government wants to impart new skills and provides us with smart dress code then I think it is a step in the right direction.”
Similarly, former Police DG SN TiwarI stated that such proposals would be very beneficial for thousands of Home Guards in the state.