The 49th Raising Day of Home Guards was celebrated with fanfare and gaiety at City Armed Reserve (CAR) here on Tuesday.
As part of celebrations, the home guards conducted an impressive parade, and Police Commissioner N. Madhusudhan Reddy inspected the guard of honour.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. MadhusudhanReddy said the Home Guards was started as a voluntary organisation, and later their services came to be utilised under the name of Home Guards in 1962 as per an order of the Central government to State governments.
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Since then they were performing multifarious duties, he said, and lauded the role of home guards as auxiliary force to the police in maintenance of internal security, perform various duties, and help the community in any kind of emergency.
He said at present there were 1,105 home guards in the city assisting the city police in maintaining the law and order, regulating the traffic etc.
They were working as drivers in crime wing, computer operators, and receptionists.
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Their services during Dasara, Bhavani deeksha, rallies, meetings, and public agitations were indeed laudable, he said.
Rewards
The government was taking necessary steps for the welfare of the home guards. The rewards would be paid to the home guards on par with the police constables.
The loans worth of Rs. 3.57 lakh were provided to the home guards during 2011, medical and health insurance of Rs. 1.32 lakh etc were some of welfare measures, he said.
Mr. Reddy recalled the services A.S. Rama Rao who was instrumental in nurturing the home guards.
He also congratulated freedom fighter S Raju, who served as a home guard. A contingent of home guards presented a colourful parade on the occasion.