File picture of home guards protesting near the Assembly

Bhubaneswar, June 1: Police patrolling in the city almost came to a halt with most of the police control room vehicles and police station jeeps staying off the streets as home guards went on a sudden strike to demand a pay hike.

The absence of home guards was also felt at various traffic junctions as the entire burden of regulating traffic fell on the traffic police. Two traffic constables are deployed at traffic squares in the central part of the city, but at other intersections, one home guard and one constable co-ordinate traffic movement.

Sources in the police control room (PCR) said that very few of the 33 PCR vans and 10 patrolling motorcycles were on the road, as most these are usually driven by the home guards.

“Today, we had got around 1,500 calls from the public and tried our best to attend to the emergency calls with the help of these few vehicles,” said a source.

Nearly 1,300 home guards assist the police in the capital. Home guards under the banner of Nikhila Utkal Gruharakhi Mahasangha ceased work today, demanding a pay hike. They alleged that although the government had promised to increase their daily remuneration from Rs 150 to Rs 250, it had not kept its word.

“We had staged a protest on March 16. The home secretary had assured us that our daily remuneration would be increased to Rs 250. He had assured us that there would be no retrenchment of home guards without proper inquiry and those who had been discharged from duty would be reinstated,” said Sanjay Behera, president of the Mahasangha. Behera said the state government had not taken any steps to keep its promise. He alleged that the authorities had been dismissing home guards from service for minor mistakes

“We are managing traffic, patrolling and helping crime detection teams. We are also deployed to manage law and order situations and assist police in raids and ambushes against the Maoists. In the city, home guards work as domestic help for senior police officers,” said a home guard, pointing out that they received only a meagre monthly remuneration for their pains.

The protesters said that on May 25, they had informed the home secretary and top police officers about their demands. “As the authorities did not take any steps we had to resort to cease work. If the government does not listen to us, we will take out a rally on June 4 and decide on the future course of action,” said an agitating home guard.

Additional director-general of police Binay Kumar Behera, who is in charge of the home guards, said the home guards had not given any official notice before going on strike.

“I had sent the proposal for hiking the remuneration of the home guards to the home department. It is pending,” said Behera.

He said the performance of home guards was reviewed every three years and they were hired again if their performance was found to be good. “The home guards’ allegation that they are being dismissed without any proper inquiry is not true. According to rules, they are given time to air their views,” said Behera.

The Cuttack-Bhubaneswar police said Special Security Battalion personnel would be deployed as drivers from tomorrow onwards if the home guards continued their cease work.