New dress code, training for home guards soon

Bhubaneswar: The home guards in Odisha will soon be seen in a new dress code, informed DG Fire Services and Commandant General Home Guards, BK Sharma, adding that new skills will also be developed in them to raise their standards of service.

Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with senior home guards from all the districts here on Monday, Sharma said the decision to have a new dress code for the home guards will have a positive impact on their performance and bring discipline.

"They will feel more confident and it will also encourage them to perform their duties with more dedication. Besides, we want to enhance their skills through training," Sharma added.

Moreover, sources informed that necessary training will be provided to home guards so that they can be inducted into fire services in future.

At present around 17,000 home guards are employed in various areas like maintaining law and order and Traffic policing.

Sharma had earlier informed that selected home guards from each district would be imparted underwater training and undergo special exercises to face challenges during natural calamities such as cyclone and flood. The Home Guards and Fire Services department had also sent a proposal in this regard to the state government.