The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and the Adivasi Hakkugala Samanvaya Samiti have opposed the decision to offer jobs as Home Guards to Malekudiyas.
The district police had announced that around 21 Malekudiyas – tribals living on the periphery of the district – will work in the police department from August as Home Guards. These Home Guards will be employed for a period of one year at a wage of Rs. 250 per day.
However, in a release, DYFI said there was no job security being a Home Guard, and equated it to that of a “daily wage worker”. “Already there are several concerns over working of Home Guards. Some are being used as menial labour for senior officials, some are not given jobs routinely,” said District president Muneer Katipalla in the release. He said there had been many instances of Home Guards not receiving their wages in full and of delayed payment.
“An agricultural labourer earns at least Rs. 300 per day, while home guards are offered only Rs. 250,” he said.
President of the Samiti Shekar L. said the tribals were being forced into “bonded labour” through these Home Guard posts.
