India 2018

Law and Justice 393
to the Border Security Force. The organisation is spread over in all the states
and union territories except in Kerala. In seven border states, a total of eighteen
(18) Border Wing Home Guards (BWHG) Battalions have also been raised viz.,
Punjab (6 Bns), Rajasthan (4 Bns), Gujarat (4 Bns) and one each of Bns for Assam,
Meghalaya, Tripura and West Bengal to serve as an auxiliary to Border Security
Force for preventing infiltration on the international border/coastal areas,
guarding of VVIPs and lines of communication in vulnerable areas at the time
of external aggression.
Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards Act and rules of the
states/union territories. They are recruited from various cross sections of the
people such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, private sector organisations, college
and university students, agricultural and industrial workers, etc., who give their
spare time to the organisation for betterment of the community. All citizens of
India, who are in the age group of 18-50, are eligible to become members of
Home Guards. Normal tenure of membership in Home Guards is 3 to 5 years.
Home Guard personnel are also awarded President's Medal for gallantry,
distinguished and meritorious services. A Home Guard, whenever called out
for duty/training, is paid duty/training allowance at prescribed rates to meet
out-of-pocket expenses. Members of Home Guards in the organisation are
trained to assist police in maintenance of law and order, prevention of crime,
anti-dacoity measures, border patrolling, prohibition, flood relief, fire-fighting,
election duties and social welfare activities. In the event of national emergency,
some portion of Civil Defence work is also entrusted to the Home Guards. The
Ministry of Home Affairs formulates the policy in respect of role, target, raising,
training, equipping, establishment and other important matters of Home Guards
Organisation. Expenditure on Home Guards is generally shared between centre
and state governments as per existing financial policy.
Fire Services
"Fire Services" is a state subject and has been included as a municipal function
in the XII schedule of the Constitution of India in terms of Article 243-W. As
such, it is the primary responsibility of the state governments/municipal bodies
to enforce the National Building Code and allocate sufficient resources for
strengthening and equipping Fire Services to ensure that safety of life and
property of citizens within their jurisdiction. The 13 th Finance Commission
recognizing the need to restructure Fire and Emergency Services across the
country has recommended that a portion of the grants provided to the urban
local bodies should be spent on revamping of fire services within their respective
jurisdiction. Further the Finance Commission has also recommended that all
municipal corporations with a population of more than 1 million (2001 census)
must put in place a fire hazard response and mitigation plan for their respective
areas. Government of India as a supplemental initiative is also implementing a
centrally sponsored scheme at a cost of ` 200 crores for strengthening of Fire