|
| Members of All Assam Trained Home Guard Association stage a dharna in Guwahati on Monday. Picture by UB Photos |
Kokrajhar, July 16: The All Assam Trained Home Guard Association today staged a three-hour dharna demanding resolution of various grievances, including regularisation of jobs, engaging trained homeguards in the regular police force and amending the 1947 Home Guard Act.
Over 200 homeguards from various parts of the district, with banners, festoons and placards, took part in the demonstration today in front of Kokrajhar deputy commissioner Donald Gilfellon’s office shouting slogans, which lasted from 11am to 2pm.
The general secretary of Kokrajhar district unit of the association, Barhan Kazi, said they have been demanding regularisation of jobs, induction of trained homeguards into government offices, hike of salaries from the current Rs 4,500 according to the government payscale, maternity leave to the women homeguards and amendment of the 1947 Assam Home Guard Act.
Kazi said the government had never taken any step to fulfil the aspirations of homeguards.
He accused the Congress-led government of not taking steps or thinking about the problems of homeguards which forced them to hit the streets.
“The government always tries to exploit the homeguards, playing political gambles resulting in hardship for the homeguards,” he said.
He warned that the association members and other homeguards would consider armed struggle against the government if their demands were not fulfilled.
A memorandum was submitted to chief minister Tarun Gogoi through the deputy commissioner demanding an early fulfilment of the 10-point charter of demands.
| 
