HOME GUARD 

  ORGANISATIONAL HISTORY 

The Home Guard Organisation has been performing duties with dedication and responsibility to protect national integrity and sovereignty for the last 39 years since its inception in 1962. The motto of Home Guard Organization is "SELFLESS SERVICE". With this view the Home Guard Organisation is rendering selfless service to the society untiringly.

During World War II Home Guards, a voluntary citizens' organization for local defence, was raised in the United Kingdom. In December 1946, Home Guards were raised in Bombay to assist the Police in controlling civil disturbances and communal riots . Subsequently, this concept of a voluntary citizens' group  to assist Police for maintenance of law & order and for meeting emergencies like flood, fire, famine  was adopted by several other States. In the wake of the war with China in 1962, the Government of India advised the States and Union Territories to merge their existing voluntary organisations into one all India force known as ‘Home Guards’ which would be voluntary both in concept and character. Home Guards in Tripura are governed by the Bombay Home Guards Act which was extended to Tripura and Tripura  Home Guards Rules, 1962 made thereafter.

  HOME GUARD ESTABLISHMENT  

Home Guard, being a voluntary organization, is governed by the Home Guards Acts and Rules of their respective States/ Union Territories. Home Guard volunteers work on the basis ‘ No Work - No Pay’ .

The Home Guard Organization is basically voluntary in character and this concept has been kept in view throughout the organisational set up. A rural/urban Home Guards Company is authorized to have a Company Commander, 2 I/C, Company Havildar Major, Company Quarter Master, Head Clerk and a Runner. The Company is divided into three platoons, each having a platoon Commander and a Sergeant. Each platoon is sub-divided into three sections consisting of 11 Home Guards in each section. Except the platoon Commander and the Sergeant all other personnel are volunteers. A nucleus of paid staff for maintaining command and control is, however, authorised at various levels.

In Tripura the functioning of the entire Home Guards Organization is controlled from the State Head quarters located at Arundhati Nagar. These divisions refer to the Home Guards compendium.

  CHARTER OF DUTIES 

According to section 16(1) of Tripura Home Guards Rules, 1962, "The functions and duties of Home Guards shall ordinarily consist of –

• Guarding public buildings;

• Patrolling for the purposes of prevention of crime and enforcement of such regulation and orders made under the Police Act, 1861& Police Regulations of Bengal, 1943 as adopted in Tripura or any other law for the time being in force;

• To serve as auxiliary to the Police and assist it  in maintaining internal security.

  • To assist community in any kind of emergency like air raid , fire,  flood, epidemic and so on;

  • To organise functional units for providing essential services such as motor transport, pioneer and engineer groups, fire brigades, nursing & first aid,  water & power supply etc;

    • To promote communal harmony and give assistance to the administration in protecting weaker sections of the society;

    • To participate in socio-economic and welfare activities such as adult education, health and hygiene, development schemes and such other tasks as are deemed useful;

• Performing such other duties in relation to any matter specified in sub-section 1 of section 2 of the Act as may be assigned, from time to time, by the State Government or the Commandant General of Home Guards.

  ORGANIZATIONAL CHART 

The Director General of Police Mr. B. L. Vohra, IPS is the present Commandant General of Tripura Home Guard Organisation. He is followed by Deputy Commandant General, Mr. V. S. Yadav, IPS and Commandant,  Mr. Nepal Chandra Das, IPS. 

This pattern is followed as per Home Guards Compendium :

The Inspector General of police, Law & Order supervises the work of Home Guard Organisation  as per order of the Police HQrs.

  HOW WE CAN HELP YOU 

Ever since its inception Home Guard Organisation has been rendering services to the society. The members of the Organisation are involved in variety of activities ranging from anti-extremist operations to working  in different offices and institutions. Following plans for serving the  people are under active consideration of Home Guards -

1. Home Guards are deployed in camps located in different interior areas inhabited by tribal people. In some areas these indigenous people are deprived of basic civic facilities like health & education. Home Guard volunteers will organise health camps & supply medicines to combat death due to epidemic in those areas.

2. Illiteracy is a feature among the tribal in the interior areas. Home Guards posted in those areas will open educational camps to make them literate.

3. Home Guards can win the trust of the people by helping them at the time of emergency due to natural disasters like flood, famine etc. with more dedication and thereby bringing the public closer to the Home Guards.

  HELP US TO HELP YOU 

The main objective of the Organisation is to provide selfless services to the society. So citizen’s co-operation is of paramount importance to this Organisation. The people may extend their support to us in the following ways:

1. Home Guards are helping Police and paramilitary forces in anti-extremist operations. People may provide us information regarding extremist hideouts so that firm action may be taken against them.

2. Home Guards volunteers play an active role in traffic control. Citizens may help us by abiding traffic rules and assisting Home Guards in controlling traffic, making the task easier for us.

3. Citizens may suggest improving the professional performance of Home Guards Organisation.

4. Citizen  may assist Home Guard volunteers at the time of natural disasters to save distressed persons.

5. Citizens may extend their support to the Home Guards, working day and night in different spheres to make the society a better living place.

  SERVICE 

Home Guard Organisation offers opportunity to the young men and women to serve the society. The eligibility for recruitment as Home Guards  are-

  ELIGIBILITY

  PHYSICAL STANDARD 

According to paragraph  1.13 of Home Guards Compendium of Instructions, 1993 a high standard of physical fitness is essential for Home Guards. State Government follows, broadly, the standards laid down for the State/UT Police forces. 

  MALE HOME GUARD VOLUNTEERS (ST)  

Height - 5’ 3" 

Chest - 30" / 32" 

  MALE HOME GUARD VOLUNTEERS (SC)  

Height - 5’ 5" 

Chest - 31" / 33" 

  MALE HOME GUARD VOLUNTEERS (GENERAL)  

Height - 5’ 5" 

Chest - 31" / 33" 

  WOMEN HOME GUARD VOLUNTEERS (ST)  

Height - 5’ 0" 

  WOMEN HOME GUARD VOLUNTEERS (SC)  

Height - 5’ 0" 

  WOMEN HOME GUARD VOLUNTEERS (GENERAL)  

Height - 5’ 0" 

  PHYSICAL TESTS (MINIMUM REQUIREMENT)  

  TRAINING 

The training for urban and Rural Home Guards is phased out into four parts viz. Basic Training, Refresher Training, Advanced Training and Leadership Training.

  URBAN HOME GUARDS 

  BASIC TRAINING 

A programme of 170 periods of 45 minutes each is to be covered with parades for 1.5.Hrs to 2.5.Hrs weekly.

Camp Training-10 days.

  REFRESHER TRAINING 

One parade of 2.5 hours duration every week is to be attended by every urban Home Guard. The emphasis should be on Physical Training, Drill, Unarmed Combat, Weapon Training, Crowd Control and duties and responsibilities relating to law and order.

Camp Training –8 days.

  ADVANCED TRAINING 

In advanced training emphasis is laid on higher training in subjects such as Drill, Weapon Training, Crowd Control, Anti-riot duties, Unarmed Combat.

Traffic control, arrangement for control of large public meetings, protection of vital installations, patrolling, fire fighting, first aid, handling of automatic weapons like sten guns and light machine guns may also be taught.

  LEADERSHIP TRAINING 

Leadership training is for 21 days for Section and platoon Commanders and for 30 days for Company Commanders.

  RURAL HOME GUARDS 

1. Basic Training- The period of basic training for rural Home Guards is for 6 weeks. It consists of 276 periods of 45 minutes each.

2. Refresher Training- During this training emphasis is laid on subjects on PT, unarmed combat, drill, weapon training, crowd control, duties and responsibilities relating to law and order.

3. Advanced Training - The emphasis on subjects in advanced training is the same as that for Urban Home Guards.

4. Leadership Training - Duration of leadership training is the same as that  for Urban Home Guards.

  BENEFITS EXTENDED TO THE HOME GUARDS  

  A. RECRUITMENT IN OTHER ORGANISATIONS  

In recognition to the services rendered by the Home Guards, the State Govt. has decided to provide incentives to them in the nature of employment in Govt. services through lateral induction.

It has been decided by Govt. that while filling in the posts of fireman and constable or jail warden, a maximum 35% of the available posts shall be filled in from the eligible Home Guards. The eligibility are as follows:-

1. A Home Guard should have a minimum of 4 years of experience as HG volunteer;

2. He should not be more than 26 years of age on the date of enrollment as Home Guard and not more than 37 years of age on the 1^st January on the year in which recruitment for the posts of fireman or constable or jail warden is being considered;

3. The educational qualification for these posts shall be relaxable up to class VIII for HG volunteers.

  B. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 

Department of Finance, Govt. of Tripura has  granted the following assistance to the members of Home Guard Organisation killed in an extremists violence.

In case of death or permanent invalidation leading to discharge from service :-

• Rs.300,000 during actual conduct of operation
• Rs.200,000  in extremist violence other in operations.

  C. DIE IN HARNESS SCHEME 

Die-in-harness scheme has been extended to the Home Guards in which an eligible person from the family of the deceased HG shall be provided with a job. 

  D. BENEVOLENT FUND  

Govt. of Tripura has constituted a benevolent fund for providing financial assistance to the Home Guards at the time need. 

  E. PAID LEAVE 

The members of HGs Organisation get 12 days of paid holidays in a year  subject to the condition that not more than 8 holidays will be sanctioned at a time.

  ACHIEVEMENT 

In 1962 Home Guard Organisation was raised with a handful of  volunteers. After 40 years the strength of Home Guard Organisation has been raised to 2258 numbers including 186 women Home Guards. This tremendous increase in the strength of HG volunteers speaks about the rising significance of this Organisation.

The following are the achievements of Home Guard Organisation, in the recent past.

1. The Organisation organized 3 health camps  in an attempt to foster communal harmony among different ethnic groups of Tripura and to help people at the time of need..

2. The Organisation has extended its activity to many other important services. The Home Guards are working day and night in Hospitals, Traffic Unit, Water supply, Tele-communication, Fire Service and Protective Homes. HGs play greater role in controlling traffic and assist police to maintain law and order.

3. In recognition of meritorious services H/G No.761037 Sri Swapan Chakraborty and WHG No.773008 Smt. Sipra Deb have received President's Home Guard & Civil Defence Medal in the year 1993 and 1994, respectively.

  CONTACT US 

HOME GUARDS ORGANISATION

A D NAGAR, AGARTALA

PHONE NO- (MAIN) 0381- 223-0212

Police EPABX- 222-3291, 232-3292, 222-3293-95

Extn 124 & 224, 186