BHUBANESWAR: If everything goes as planned, home guards, who serve as an auxiliary force in Odisha Police , may get Rs 1.5 lakh ex gratia upon retirement from the voluntary service at the age of 60.Taking its cue from Bihar, the directorate-general of fire service, home guards and civil defence has sent a proposal to the home department to provide the financial aid to the home guards.Against the sanctioned strength of 17,675, Odisha has around 15,000 home guards, who assist police in maintaining law and order and regulating traffic. Unlike police personnel who are government employees and draw a monthly salary, home guards are paid according to the number of days they attend duty. At present, the home guards are entitled to Rs 300 per day's work. They do not get any perks, allowance and retirement benefits.According to the proposal, a copy of which is with TOI, a number of home guards have been approaching the directorate, seeking reappointment for three more years after being discharged from service at the age of 60. "We are facing a lot difficulties and leading a miserable life due to lack of financial support and absence of engagement at old age," said a home guard."It is proposed that the government may kindly consider payment of ex gratia of Rs 1.5 lakh to the discharged home guards as a social welfare measure. Those who render at least 20 years of the voluntary service should be eligible for the proposed scheme," the proposal that was sent on Monday read.In the proposal note, the directorate-general of home guards has mentioned that the Bihar government launched a social welfare scheme for home guards in April last year, enabling them to get Rs 1.5 lakh ex gratia upon their retirement at 60.An official source said 442 home guards are discharged at the age of 60 in Odisha in a year. If the proposal materializes, the state government will have to bear an additional expense of around Rs 6.63 crore per annum."We welcome the proposal as it will provide us with some financial assistance at the end of our service. We also urge the government to give us basic pay, grade pay, dearness allowance and washing allowance like police personnel," said Upendra Mohapatra, a leader of Odisha Home Guards' Association."Though we play a major role in Odisha Police and are deployed to maintain law and order during major events and festivals, we continue to be neglected," Mohapatra added.

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