09 January,2009 06:25 AM IST | | Vinod Kumar Menon
Are supposed to be paid Rs 200 per day; though the u00a0job is voluntary, many of them u00a0have no other source of income
The Home Guards posted at railway stations have faced a lot of flak for their lethargic attitude at work, but what is not so commonly known is that many of them have not been paid their daily allowance of Rs 200 for the past four months. This money translates into survival for most Home Guards.
After the 7/11 serial train blasts in the city, 1,200 Home Guards were deployed at all Western and Central Railway stations to help the railway police. It's a crucial posting since stations have repeatedly been venues of terror attacks all over the world.
A Home Guard deployed at a station told MiD DAY, "We have not been paid for the past four months. The problem came up after the government increased the daily allowance from Rs 95 to Rs 200 per day since September last year."
Another Home Guard, who joined after he lost his job at a government spinning mill, said, "I have not paid my children's school fees for the past four months and have to borrow money to feed my family."
Deputy Commandant (Home Guard) Mehercher Hakim, admitted to the delay in paying, but defended their status saying, "The force is voluntary. Unlike other forces, Home Guards are not hired on a monthly salary.
They are given a daily allowance, which is paid after receipt of funds from the state government."
Another senior officer said,u00a0 "Our funds are exhausted. The grants come in on a monthly basis, but it is too little to meet the monthly expenses."
Meanwhile, 170 city home guards have been taken off their postings since January 1, as the stations outside Mumbai limits will now be guarded by home guards from the Thane rural district.
3,000
The number of Home Guards in Mumbai
Action against 30 for reading newspapers
A K Sharma, commissioner, Government Railway Police, said disciplinary action had been initiated against the 30 home guards for reading newspapers on duty, leaving their benches unmanned and failing to detect objects during dummy trials. Sharma admitted that he was aware of the non-payment of allowances, but refused to comment, saying the home guards were not under his jurisdiction.
