Amit Shah inaugurates the 14th All India Civil Defense and Home Guards Conference in Gujarat

Gandhinagar : Union Home Minister  Amit Shah inaugurated the 14th All India Civil Defence and Home Guards Conference, in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi remained present at the event.

Addressing the conference, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah stated that fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of building a Viksit Bharat by 2047 requires the cooperation of all aspects of society in preserving our language, culture, traditions, and values. None of these links should be weak. To achieve this dream, India must excel in all fields, including service and security.

This two-day conference will be instrumental in reaching that goal. He stated that our government has restored the importance that Civil Defence and Home Guard forces deserve, which had been lacking for many years. This two-day conference will invigorate the personnel of Civil Defence and Home Guards. Service is at the heart of Indian culture, and thus, it is crucial to protect every citizen, their property, and their rights. Consequently, Civil Defence and Home Guards embody the intersection of service and security. While it is essential to adjust their salaries and benefits over time, preserving the spirit of service that defines their work is equally important.

He emphasized that the Civil Defence and Home Guard organizations instil the value of service in the nation’s citizens. The Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat can be realized when these organizations align with the principles of service and security. This two-day training program will include five sessions focused on enhancing security and service across states, as well as strengthening both organizations. He further noted that the Civil Defence and Home Guard have been serving the nation since independence. The then Prime Minister, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, established the Directorate General in 1962. In 1965, the contributions of the Civil Defence and Home Guards were significant, culminating in the passage of the Civil Defence Act in 1968.

Acknowledging the efforts of the Home Guard and Civil Defence personnel, he emphasized that their service during the COVID-19 pandemic deserves immense recognition. Throughout the pandemic, these personnel remained dedicated to serving citizens. He also paid tribute to those Civil Defence and Home Guard members who lost their lives while serving the public during this challenging period, honouring their sacrifices. He announced that a new charter for Civil Defence and Home Guard personnel would be developed within the next four months. This charter will outline their contributions during emergencies, organizational arrangements for transportation and traffic management, procedures for conducting rescue operations in wartime, and strategies for citizen protection and morale enhancement.

Additionally, it will feature social awareness campaigns focusing on initiatives such as Addiction-Free India, Swachh Bharat, Tree Plantation, Plastic-Free India, Poshan Yukt Bharat (Nourished India), and Women’s Safety. The charter will also include a roadmap for training related to the local legal system and support for educational improvements, addressing dropout rates and enhancing education quality. He encouraged the attending officials to provide constructive suggestions for amending this new charter. In his address, the Home Minister urged citizens to motivate the youth from all communities to participate in the Home Guard and Civil Defence, similar to the NCC and NSS. On this occasion, the Home Minister congratulated the officials for successfully organizing this significant National Conference of Civil Defence and Home Guard Forces in Gujarat after 20 years.

In his address at the conference, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel emphasized the crucial role of internal security and civil safety in India’s development under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership. He noted that the Home Guards and Civil Defence will strengthen civil assistance in disaster management while also bolstering the law and order framework across the country. The Chief Minister further stated that the Home Guards and Civil Defense personnel consistently work alongside the police force to ensure that the state remains safe, secure, and peaceful.

He stated that the Central Government has allocated over ₹150 crores for the advanced training and preparedness of personnel working in the Home Guards and Civil Defense within the state. CM expressed his gratitude to Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah for this allocation. He commended the Home Guards and Civil Defense personnel for their exemplary service in protecting citizens during fairs, traffic management, mall management and also amidst storms, rains and other calamities in the state. Additionally, he noted that personnel from these forces can play a significant role in supporting the Prime Minister’s cleanliness drive by participating in social awareness programs such as Swachhta Abhiyan. The Chief Minister emphasised the need to uphold the principle of ‘Rashtra Pratham’ (Nation First) and guide the Home Guards and Civil Defence in their efforts to help achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047.

In his welcome address, Director General of the Central Fire Service, Civil Security, and Home Guard, Vivek Srivastava, stated that the Directorate General of Civil Security was established in 1962 to strengthen India’s civil security framework. From the beginning, civil security has been viewed as the cornerstone of ‘Active Defense Measures,’ with both organizations integrated into India’s national strategy under the ‘Total Defense Concept.’ With the transition from conventional warfare to hybrid warfare, the role of Home Guards in protecting the nation has become increasingly crucial. He emphasized that Home Guard personnel are vital in saving lives during the critical golden hour following any incident. The invaluable services provided by members of the Civil Defence and Home Guard Forces will be remembered in the country’s history. As a result, this two-day conference will launch a new initiative focused on strengthening these forces, improving their efficiency, and equipping them with advanced technology.

The conference saw participation from over 60 senior officers, including IAS, GAS, DG, ADG, IG, DIG, and SP ranks, along with more than 1,200 honorary members of the force from various states and Union Territories across the country. The event began with a cultural program performed by students from Dahod and Dhandhuka. The opening ceremony was attended by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, MLAs, MPs, Home Department Additional Chief Secretary M. K. Das, senior police officials, and Home Guards officers from Gujarat and other regions.