UP to get 41,000 more home guards; to get CPR-first aid ‘golden hour’ response training: Yogi

Lucknow: With over 41,000 vacancies set to be filled and a major infrastructure overhaul underway, the Uttar Pradesh govt is moving to transform the Home Guards organisation into a more professional, technology-driven and disaster-ready force.Reviewing the department on Sunday, chief minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials to expedite recruitment, strengthen training systems and modernise infrastructure to enhance the force’s effectiveness in law-and-order duties, disaster response and public service.A key focus of the review was the role of Home Guards as first responders. The chief minister directed that all Home Guard volunteers be trained in CPR and first aid and be sensitised to the importance of the “golden hour” in saving lives after accidents and medical emergencies. Officials said the move is aimed at enabling Home Guards to provide immediate assistance before medical teams arrive.The Home Guards organisation, established in 1963, currently has 1.18 lakh sanctioned posts, but only 67,971 personnel are available for deployment. To bridge the gap, the state is conducting enrolment for 41,424 vacant posts. Officials informed the chief minister that the written examination was conducted in April and the final result is expected in Sept. Selected candidates will undergo a 90-day basic training programme at police training institutions.The review also highlighted the force’s expanding role in disaster management. According to officials, 3,812 Home Guards have been trained as “Aapda Mitra” volunteers, while 1,091 personnel have received specialised fire-rescue training and 425 have been trained in flood-rescue operations.Alongside recruitment and training, the govt is investing heavily in infrastructure. Twenty construction projects worth Rs 104.80 crore are currently underway. Plans are also being prepared to upgrade the department’s Central Training Institute into a modern training hub equipped with smart classrooms, digital learning facilities, upgraded hostels, modern parade and drill grounds, obstacle courses, digital libraries and CCTV-based security systems.The chief minister also reviewed welfare measures for Home Guard volunteers. Officials said dependants of personnel who die during service receive Rs 5 lakh in ex gratia assistance. Since Dec 2020, the govt has distributed Rs 157.65 crore in 3,153 such cases. In addition, families of 125 deceased volunteers have received insurance benefits ranging from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 45 lakh through various banking and insurance schemes since April 2022.Officials also informed the meeting that training allowances have been increased, uniform allowances introduced and the daily food allowance for inter-district deployment raised from Rs 30 to Rs 120.The review comes as the state govt seeks to strengthen the Home Guards’ role beyond assisting police, with greater emphasis on disaster response, crowd management, election duties and community outreach programmes. Yogi directed officials to ensure all reform and modernisation initiatives are implemented within fixed timelines.