Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 18:
Strongly protesting the non increase of their pay to Rs 100 per day from the current Rs 50 per day, despite the instructions of the Union Home Ministry, Home Guard personnel of the State have decided to cease work from next month.
Airing their protest, Home Guard personnel, who came to the office of The Sangai Express today questioned, what has happened to the instructions of the Union Home Ministry to increase their daily allowance to Rs 100 per day.
Though Chief Minister O Ibobi had earlier agreed to increase their allowance as per the directives of the Centre, the State Home Department is yet to release the increased pay, said the aggrieved personnel and added that they are currently being paid only Rs 1500 per month, whereas it should be Rs 3000 per month, according to the instructions of the Centre.
Apart from this, the Home Guard personnel are also entitled to a sum of Rs 150 per month as transport allowance, Rs 450 as food allowance, Rs 25 as brushing allowance and allowance according to ranks.
This is being implemented all over the country and even Manipur has been asked to implement this.
When The Sangai Express contacted Addl DGP Y Joykumar who is in charge of Home Guard, the IPS officer admitted that the hiked pay of Rs 100 per day is yet to be given.
He however added that the Govt is working out the intricacies of hiking their pay as instructed by the Centre.
Except for the lump sum of Rs 1500 paid to each Home Guard, no other allowance are paid to the Home Guards, they said adding that even if they get injured or face any problem while on duty, they have to bear the expenses from their own pockets.
At times, the personnel pool in money if any of them get seriously ill, they added.
There have been cases of Home Guard personnel being dismissed for lodging their protest with the Government over the shoddy treatment meted out to them, said the Home Guard personnel adding that in some cases they have also been transferred to remote areas as deterrent against lodging any complaints.
At the moment there are four battalions of Home guard they informed and added that the total strength of the personnel is 2346.The services of the Home Guards are being utilised by the Government throughout the year, they said and added that they ought to be treated better.