Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presided over the 63rd Raising Day celebrations of Himachal Pradesh Home Guards and Civil Defence at Sarogheen, Shimla.
Extending his greetings to personnel of Home Guards, Civil Defence, Fire Services and SDRF, the Chief Minister lauded their remarkable contribution to the safety and development of the State. He said that during the year, the forces conducted 708 search and rescue operations, saving 448 lives and preventing damage to property valued at ₹2,000 crore. The department also restored 1,035 water sources and water bodies.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to women empowerment under Vyavastha Parivartan, Sh. Sukhu announced that women would soon be inducted into the Fire Services, with amendments to recruitment rules underway. Recruitment to Home Guards is also set to begin shortly.
He said the Government has taken major steps to strengthen these departments. Four new fire stations have been established at Deha, Ubadesh, Nerwa and Indora, 27 new fire tenders have been procured, and 150 posts have been created. The State has allocated ₹55 crore under the Fire Services Modernization Scheme, while SDRF has been equipped with advanced gear worth ₹6 crore, including drones for aerial surveys, search operations and disaster monitoring.
The Chief Minister also highlighted that maternity leave benefits have been extended to women Home Guards.
On the occasion, he launched the Miracle of Mind mobile application, developed with the Isha Foundation, to support the fight against drug abuse. Outstanding units and personnel were also felicitated, followed by a ‘Safe Himachal’ demonstration showcasing fire-fighting and rescue drills.
Earlier, ADG Satwant Atwal Trivedi welcomed the Chief Minister and detailed departmental initiatives, noting that nearly 11,000 mock drills and 3,000 awareness camps were conducted, training around two lakh citizens. Deputy Commandant General Arvind Parashar proposed the vote of thanks.
The event was attended by Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Additional Chief Secretary Shyam Bhagat Negi, ADGP Abhishek Trivedi, Special Secretary Sudesh Mokhta and other dignitaries.