Posts of Home Guards to be filled, says CM
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the state government will equip Home Guards and fire services with modern technology and undertake recruitment of 700 personnel. The Chief Minister today presided over the closing ceremony of Fire Service Week at the State Fire Training Centre in Baldeyan in Shimla district. The week-long event, held from April 14 to 20 concluded with impressive demonstrations of fire-fighting and rescue operations by fire department personnel.
He said the state government was making efforts to fill vacant posts in the Home Guards department and that the recruitment process for 700 new Home Guard personnel would commence shortly. Sukhu also flagged off 13 new fire fighting vehicles to enhance the department’s emergency response capabilities.
He honoured fire service personnel for their exemplary service and presented awards to the winners of various competitions held during the Fire Service Week. He also paid tribute at the Shaheed Smarak and announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of two fire personnel, martyrs Joginder Pal and Ghanshyam, who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2009 while serving in Nalagarh of district Solan.
Sukhu lauded the bravery and dedication of fire, home guard and police personnel, saying: “Protecting life and property amidst blazing fires is not just a duty but a noble service. The state government is working towards strengthening fire services, particularly given Himachal Pradesh’s vulnerability to disasters due to its hilly terrain,” he said.
The Chief Minister also praised the critical role played by the fire services, the home guards and the SDRF personnel during the 2023 monsoon-led disaster and acknowledged their commendable service.
He said the state government was steering the state towards self-reliance, despite facing significant natural calamities and political challenges. He said the government was striving to improve the quality of life of common citizens by implementing reforms in policies and laws.
The Chief Minister accused the previous BJP government of mismanaging public funds and said his government curbed corruption and generated an additional revenue exceeding Rs 2,200 crore by curbing corruption. He also stated that the government was bringing significant reforms in the education and healthcare sectors.
“The state was considering introducing CBSE curriculum in government schools, starting initially with 100 schools. Similarly, healthcare reforms were underway to provide better medical services across the state,” he said. The Chief Minister assured that these efforts would yield visible and positive results in the near future.
The Chief Minister took salute of an impressive parade led by Nitin Dhiman. Fire Services Director Satwant Atwal welcomed the Chief Minister and provided detailed insights into the department’s activities.
Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh and Mayor MC Shimla Surender Chauhan, and other senior police officials were present on the occasion.
