Shillong, Aug 20: Altogether 445 candidates recruited by the Civil Defence & Home Guards received appointment letters at the first Rozgar Mela of the department held in Mawdiangdiang today.
Minister of Civil Defence & Home Guards Comingone Ymbon handed over the appointment letters to the recruits comprising four Sub Inspectors, 284 Guardsman, 17 Drivers and 140 Non-Combatant Employees.
Ymbon in his speech said that the day marks not only the beginning of their professional journey but also the continuation of a proud tradition of service, sacrifice and discipline.
He said since its inception, the Civil Defence and Home Guards have always stood as pillars of courage and resilience during times of crisis, whether it’s natural disasters like floods, earthquakes and cyclones, or emergencies such as fires, accidents and law-and-order situations.
Ymbon said that the recruitment process was timely and smooth despite minor setbacks in the PET in Shillong. He said the government stands by its commitment to ensure a fair and transparent recruitment where merit and only merit is the basis for selection.
Commissioner & Secretary Vijay Kumar Mantri welcomed the new recruits and congratulated the chairman and members of the recruitment board for their high level of professionalism and commitment.
Director of Civil Defence M.K Sangma said that entry to government service is a bridge that fulfils the aspirations of many. He added that with the new recruits the department will be able to serve the state better whether as an auxiliary to police, or to give a selfless service to protect the nation in time of disaster or war. He informed that soon the department will further recruit another 233 personnel in coming months.
He informed that in view of the extreme hardship faced by the Home Guards volunteers deployed for traffic duties due to delay in payment of duty allowances, their payment would now be made by the department and not the requisitioning agency.
In a bid to strengthen the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) which although short staffed has done tremendous work in aiding the government in disasters and crisis, Sangma said that the department has submitted a proposal to government to subsume the Border Wing Home Guards Battalion so that the rank and file of the battalion will be converted into SDRF. He added that the Battalion will be raised as originally intended by the Ministry of Home Affairs on a voluntary basis with volunteers drawn from the areas of the state bordering Bangladesh.
