Members of the Civil Defence and Home Guards were praised for their service to the state on the occasion of the 61st Raising Day here today.
“The twin organisations of Civil Defence and Home Guards have played a significant role in providing assistance in many emergencies and whenever any calamity both natural or man-made has occurred,” Minister of Civil Defence and Home Guards Comingone Ymbon said at the function.
“The role of Home Guard volunteers in regulating traffic, providing guard duty to the Assembly complex and assisting the police in guarding puja pandals and other festivities is worthy of praise,” he added.
These two organisations also provide help to the civil administration and the state police in the maintenance of law and order in VIP security duty, in meeting the security requirements of many central and state government departments and public sector utilities.
While highlighting the important role that the organisations play in imparting training to the local population on civil defence and disaster management, the minister advised the department “to take active help from various local bodies like the Dorbars, Nokmas, etc so that capacity building and awareness to face any challenge becomes widespread.”
The department has trained 7,110 students and the general public in disaster management, search and rescue and first aid in urban and rural areas. Ymbon added that, during the year 2022-23, 2,531 Home Guard volunteers and 330 Civil Defence volunteers were trained. Furthermore, as many as 1,391 trained Home Guard volunteers are currently engaged by various government departments, PSUs and private agencies.
The origin of the Home Guards is traced to the local defence force raised during the First World War in the United Kingdom, whereas in India the Home Guards were raised in Mumbai on December 6, 1946, which is the reason why the raising day has been celebrated every year on this date.
Lauding the State Disaster Response Force, I Nongrang, the Director General of Civil Defence and Home Guards, said that “the SDRF has since its inception acquitted itself commendably in various search and rescue and relief operations.”
She also added that “despite the significant manpower shortage, the working together and the coordination of this department ensures that rescue and relief efforts are rendered in a timely manner and continue round the clock whenever necessary.”
Earlier, Ymbon pinned the medal for meritorious service for Home Guards and Civil Defence on five Civil Defence and Home Guards personnel. He also distributed the Director General Civil Defence Disc and Commendation Certificate, of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to 12 recipients.
Nongrang awarded the Director General of Civil Defence and Home Guards Meghalaya Cash Prize and Commendation Certificate 2021 to six personnel along with the cash awards.
A parade featuring four contingents comprising the SDRF, Border Wing Home Guards Battalion, Combined Districts and Home Guards Volunteer Contingent also took place. The celebrations also featured a demonstration of an SDRF rescue operation simulating an earthquake.
