Citing the National Crime Records Bureau report recently released, the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that the State is the second most secure State in India while attributing it to the vigilance being kept by the State police force. He said this while addressing a programme held to mark the foundation day of home guards and civil defence at its directorate on Wednesday. The CM congratulated the home guard personnel and civil defence volunteers on the occasion and lauded their contribution in checking crimes, resolving traffic problems, maintaining peace and also reaching succour to the disaster-struck people. He awarded 17 personnel for their distinguished services and laid the foundation stone of the extended building of home guards directorate on Tapovan Road in Nanoorkheda.
Rawat gave cheque of Rs 5lakh each to the widows of two home guards from Udham Singh Nagar and Pauri districts who laid down their lives while on the line of duty. He also released publications related to home guard and civil defence on the occasion.
“We must work hard in the coming days to help the state emerge as the most secure state of India. For this to become a reality, the home guard personnel and civil defence volunteers must contribute a great deal.
We expect a lot from them as they help maintain law and order, reach out to the disaster-affected people with relief, conserve environment, ensure road safety, bring about cleanliness under swachchhata mission and the like,” he said, adding that such personnel must be physically agile and mentally alert to fulfil the great expectation the people have of them.
He also cited the fact of around 1000 home guard personnel being sent to Himachal Pradesh for ensuring peace during the Vidhan Sabha election. Their performance there was exemplary, he said. “The State Government would take steps to further strengthen these two units- home guard and civil defence,” CM said.
Home guard commandant general and civil defence director Ram Singh Meena dwelt at details on the activities of the two units and said that 6411 men and women are currently working in the home guard department.
Among others present on the occasion were Uttarakhand minorities commission chairman Narendrajeet Singh Bindra and MLAs Umesh Sharma Kau and Pranav Singh Champion aside from some senior police officers.