Odisha Govt Lifts Ban On Home Guard Recruitment, Check Other Measures For Strengthening Police Force

Bhubaneswar: To strengthen Odisha police further, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi made a slew of announcements, including lifting of the ban on recruitment of home guards, which has been in place since February 2020, on the floor of the House.

“2,298 vacant home guard posts will be filled up soon,” said Majhi while responding to debate on demand for grants of Home department.

He further announced extension of compassionate appointment to home guards killed in the line of duty. “A member of the family of a home guard killed in Naxal violence or in similar incidents will be provided government job,” he said.

Other announcements

1. 9,000 motorcycles for inspectors, sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors

2. Creation of 1000 posts for traffic police

3. Creation of 4000 post for Odisha Industrial Security Force (OISF)

4. Sanction of 10 ODRAF Team.

5. Permission to fill 2922 vacancies in different ranks in Odisha Police

6. Permission to fill 1083 vacancies of newly created Special Security Battalion in Puri

7. All support for anti-Naxal operations

8. Budget provision of 117 crore for Emergency Response System (112)

The CM informed that the Centre has approved Odisha government’s action plan of Rs 200 crore to upgrade the capacity of Fire Service department. A total of Rs 540 crore has been sanctioned from State Disaster Relief Fund for capacity upgradation of 346 fire stations, and another Rs 200 crore to further strengthen the fire and emergency services in the state, he said.

Majhi said that five regional hubs will be established in Cuttack, Balasore, Sambalpur, Berhampur and Rayagada for improving disaster response systems. The process of identifying land and procuring equipment for the regional hubs has already started.

He mentioned about training of 10 search and rescue dogs for dealing with disasters like landslides and building collapse. These dogs will be deployed in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Angul, Berhampur, Koraput, Sambalpur, Rourkela and Balasore in the next six months.