disasters as well as in post-disaster response and relief operations and law and order situations.
The training of its organisation is carried out in three tier levels. The training of master trainers
and specialized training is conducted at the National Civil Defence College, Nagpur and team/
leadership training is conducted at state civil defence institutes. Training of the volunteers in
Civil Defence Organisation is conducted at local/town levels by trained trainers in the form of
short-term training programmes. A centrally sponsored scheme was launched at a cost of ₹100
crore in 2009 for revamping the Civil Defence setup in the country during the 11th Plan. The
scheme envisages creation of new Civil Defence Training Institutes (CDTIs) in 10 states and
renovation of infrastructure of CDTIs in 17 states, in addition 100 multi hazard districts have
been selected for creation of civil defence infrastructure. A pilot project has also been launched
in 40 selected towns to train and utilize Civil Defence volunteers in internal security tasks.
Home Guards
Home Guards is a voluntary force, first raised in India in December, 1946, to assist the
police in controlling civil disturbances and communal riots. Subsequently, the concept of the
voluntary citizens force was adopted by several states. In the wake of Chinese aggression in
1962, the Centre advised the states and union territories to merge their existing voluntary
organisations into one uniform voluntary force known as Home Guards. The role of Home
Guards is to serve as an auxiliary to the police in maintenance of internal security, help the
community in any kind of emergency such as an air-raid, fire, cyclone, earthquake, epidemic,
etc., help in maintenance of essential services, promote communal harmony and assist the
administration in protecting weaker sections, participate in socio-economic and welfare activities
and perform civil defence duties. Home Guards are of two types-rural and urban. In border
States, Border Wing Home Guard Battalions have also been raised, which serve as an auxiliary
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