Home Guards Long for Honorarium; Government's Promises Prove Hollow: Rafia Naz
Ranchi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state spokesperson Rafia Naz has leveled serious allegations against the Hemant government regarding the plight of Home Guard personnel in Jharkhand. She stated that these personnel are currently struggling to receive their honorarium, despite the government's pre-election promises to ensure their dignity, job security, and timely payments. She remarked that the current situation reveals all the government's claims and promises to be completely hollow.
Rafia Naz described the incident where a female Home Guard on duty at Jamshedpur's MGM Hospital broke down in tears—having not received her honorarium for five months—as one that has shaken the entire state. She noted that the female guard's statement—"If I don't get my honorarium, I will die"—reflects not just her personal anguish but the grim reality faced by thousands of Home Guards across the state. The woman's inability to afford medical treatment despite suffering from a serious illness exposes the government's apathy.
The BJP spokesperson pointed out that this is not an isolated incident. Earlier this month, there was a report of another female Home Guard attempting suicide due to financial distress caused by the non-payment of her honorarium. Despite this, the government has neither devised a permanent solution nor taken concrete steps to ensure timely payments.
Rafia Naz recalled that following a Jharkhand High Court directive in 2024, the government had announced an increase in the daily honorarium for Home Guards; yet, payments remain pending for months in several districts. She demanded that the government make public a district-wise breakdown of the outstanding honorarium and explain why the personnel are not receiving their dues on time.
She alleged that during the elections, the JMM and Chief Minister Hemant Soren had assured Home Guards of concrete measures regarding job security, dignity, and permanent employment; however, today, these personnel are forced to make repeated rounds of government offices just to secure their honorarium. She termed this a betrayal of election promises.
Rafia Naz stated that instead of addressing the grievances of Home Guard personnel demanding their rights, the government adopted a harsh stance towards their protests and even resorted to lathi-charges. She remarked that this clearly demonstrates the government's lack of seriousness regarding the issues faced by uniformed personnel.
She noted that it is not just Home Guards who are suffering; beneficiaries of schemes such as the 'Maiyan Samman Yojana,' as well as those receiving widow, disability, and old-age pensions, are distressed due to delays in receiving their benefits. The government is preoccupied with publicity, while the poor, women, the elderly, the differently-abled, and Home Guards are left struggling for their rights.
The BJP spokesperson demanded the immediate release of all pending honorariums for Home Guard personnel, ensured regular payment of revised honorariums in compliance with court directives, the formulation of a clear policy regarding job security, and the immediate fulfillment of the government's election promises.
Rafia Naz said, "Any claim of sensitivity by a government falls flat when a uniformed personnel member, who serves the state, is reduced to tears while trying to support their family. The people of Jharkhand now seek accountability and justice, not merely announcements."
