Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Sep 20:  State home minister, Dr V S Acharya, said that the state plans to increase the number of Home Guards in the state from the present 25,000 to 40,000 by March, 2012.

He was speaking at the ground of Malpe coastal security police station, after inaugurating the Malpe unit of Home Guards on Sunday September 19. The programme was organized under the aegis of Udupi District Legal Services Authority, Udupi District Bar Association and District Home Guards.

“Maintenance of law and order is an important aspect of any civilized society. The policemen succeed in achieving this, only when the citizens vibe well with the police department. The Home Guards, picked from within the populace, have been serving the society well, particularly during elections, festivals  and such other occasions. Their daily allowance has recently been increased to Rs 150 from the earlier Rs 100,” Acharya explained.

He claimed that the crime rate in the state has come down, and the naxal problem has also eased. Karnataka has now been removed from the list of naxal-prone states as a result, he said.

Udupi district and sessions judge, Narendra Kumar Gunaki, inaugurated legal awareness programme on the occasion. President of the District Bar Association, C Vijay Hegde, Home Guards district commandant, Dr Ganapati Bhat, and Coastal Security Force deputy superintendent, Sadanand Nayak, were present.