Policing, law and order, security and traffic control services were badly hit in Bihar as over 53,000 Home Guard personnel went on an indefinite strike today to press for their demands of raising daily allowance and retirement age.
Bihar Home Guard and Fire Services Director General (DG) P N Rai said jawans spread across the state deposited their firearms and other weapons at their respective district headquarters before going on the strike.
"The jawans have a set of demands and the government is sympathetic towards them. We are considering their demands and what measures could be taken. Meanwhile, we have made alternative arrangements to ensure that policing, as well as, law and order services go on smoothly in the state," Rai told PTI.
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Home Guards, raised as a force in Bihar in 1947, work as an auxiliary unit and extend support to the regular Bihar Police personnel.
Its jawans had been agitating for last couple of years for increase in their daily allowance from Rs 300 to Rs 500, one-time after-retirement benefit of Rs 3 lakh, raising retirement age from 58 to 60, and Rs 10 lakh compensation to those who die in harness.
Other demands include travel and food allowances of Rs 50 each daily.
The agitators also want their services to be regularised by the state on lines of Bihar Police.
The state Home Guard Association President Arun Kumar Thakur said, "Our personnel lead a life of poverty and misery in the present era of inflation. The government should pay attention so that they are able to survive."
Thakur said the Home Guard personnel have withdrawn themselves from duty at police stations, law and order, traffic, railways, banks, Bihar government installations, security at VVIP residences, as well as, work as drivers and bodyguards of senior administrative officials.
"We will intensify our agitation in the coming days if the government does not listens to us. We will block traffic across the state on May 20 and embark on 'jail bharo (fill the jail) movement on May 21," Thakur added.
