HOME Department of Maharashtra Government has raised substantially the allowances for Home Guards. The duty allowance has been increased from Rs 570 per day to Rs 1,083 per day. Apart from the duty allowance, their other allowances also have been increased. These include hike in gift allowance from Rs 100 to Rs 200, drill allowance from Rs 90 to Rs 180, pocket allowance from Rs 35 to Rs 100, and food allowance has been raised from Rs 100 to Rs 250. The hike in allowances has been effected from October 1, 2024. An amount of Rs 552.7120 crore has been approved for the current financial year 2024- 25.

 

The amount of Rs 795.7120 crore will be provided for meeting the expenditure arising out of this hike, in the subsequent financial years Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister, tweeted that the hike raised the duty allowance payable to the Home Guards to the extent that it was the highest in the country. Besides, other allowances have been increased. The hike in allowances will benefit around 55,000 Home Guards in Maharashtra. In the last month only, recruitment process for 11,207 Home Guards was completed and they are getting trained, he added.

 

The organisation of the Home Guards came into existence on December 6, 1946. The citizens willing to work voluntarily in service of the nation apart from their regular professions/jobs, are roped in on honorary basis to serve in the Home Guards. They assist the police in maintaining law and order, during disaster situations, and to enable the Government to run the essential services. In recognition of their honorary services, they are paid honorarium/allowances.