HOMEGUARDS

THE WORK

The Homeguards are an auxiliary force to the police for the maintenance of internal security, as well as for helping the community in emergencies such as air raids, fires and floods. These services performed by the Homeguards are essentially voluntary in nature.

ENTRY

Recruitment in the Homeguards is open to ail classes of people from all walks of life. However, for initial recruitment, the preferred age group is between 18 and 20 years. Central government employees are often taken into the Homeguards. They are treated as being on special casual leave, while on training or on duty as Homeguards. This facility is also available for the employees of public sector undertakings.

Eligibility

Gazetted officers in the Homeguards have to be graduates in any discipline. The emphasis during recruitment is largely on a high degree of physical fitness. The standards laid down by the state governments/union territories are similar to those prescribed for the police forces in the respective
states and union territories.

Training

Each state/union territory has set up a Central Training Institute, in order to cater to the training requirements of the Homeguards. The training of Urban and Rural Homeguards is generally categorized into four distinct phases. 

These are: Basic training, refresher training, advance training, and leadership training. The training includes drills, with and without arms, weapons training, fire discipline, crowd control, field craft patrolling, map reading and defense training. The duration of the training period extends over approximately 100 hours. 

The training of women is broadly in line with that of the men, except for bayonet training weapon training, field craft, lathi drill, and the like. While on training, or even on duty, Homeguards enjoy the same powers, privileges and protection as are allowed to the state police officers.

State Protective Services

The State Protective Services include the State Police Services, Prisons, Excise, and Forest departments. Since these services come under the purview of the state departments, there are considerable variations in their recruitment methods, salaries and promotion channels. However, all these services give preference to those who have shown proficiency in sports, or those who have got NCC certificates.

State Police Services

The primary function of the police is to check crimes and to maintain law and order. The functions include investigating crime, patrolling streets, regulating traffic, interposing in quarrels and generally responding to the demands of the people for police assistance. The police force also renders assistance in case of disasters such as aircraft and train accidents, and natural calamities including earthquakes and floods.

The Commissioner of police heads the police department of a city, and is responsible for the command of the police force, its administration, recruitment, and maintenance of discipline within the police force.

Major Tasks Performed

MAINTAINENCE OF LAW AND ORDER

The police force ensures the maintenance of law and order in the vicinity in peacetime as well as in times of crises. Apart from patrolling streets, the police interpose in quarrels and provide assistance to the people when it is required. They also provide assistance to victims of major disasters such as aircraft and train accidents, and to the victims of natural calamities like floods and earthquakes.

C0NTROLLING CRIME

Both the armed and the unarmed battalions of the police ensure the prevention of crime, not only through formulation of various policy measures, but also through investigation of crimes and quarrels. The police have to ensure that all criminals deserving punishment are arrested.

TRAFFIC OFFICERS

Traffic officers mainly deal with matters pertaining to traffic on the streets, and ensure that the traffic moves safely. Particularly at street intersections, the traffic police officers prevent violation of speed regulations.

DETECTIVE SERVICES

Certain police officers also specialize in carrying out investigations to locate absconding criminals trying to avoid punishment. They visit the scene of crime; gather evidence by tracing fingerprints, photographs and interview people, in order to assist in the investigations. The Forensic Department plays an active role in testing any clues left by the criminals. 

LEGAL DIVISION

Legal advisors, Prosecutors and Senior Prosecutors assist the police force in various legal matters.

ENTRY

In the non-gazetted cadre, constables should have qualified the matriculate level examination. Assistant Sub-inspectors are recruited directly; they should possess a degree from a recognized university. In the case of Sub-inspectors, 50% are recruited directly, and the remaining 50% of the vacancies are filled in by promotions. Women officers, on the other hand, are recruited directly to the rank of Sub-inspector and Assistant Sub-inspector of Police.

In the case of non-gazetted officers in the police services recruitment of officer's upto the rank of Sub-inspector is done by the state governments, through selection tests and interviews. 

However, the posts of gazetted officers are filled by the State Public Service Commission, on the basis of combined service examinations, which are followed by interviews by the selection board. However, IPS officers selected by the UPSC are assigned to the respective State cadres as Assistant Superintendents of Police, and at higher posts.

Eligibility

The eligibility criterion for recruitment to a constable's position is a matriculate qualification, apart from the given physical requirements. The eligible candidates should be in the age group of 18 to 21 years. Candidates for the post of Assistant Sub-inspectors and Sub-inspectors should possess a degree in any discipline, from a recognized university, and the age limit for this position is 20 to 25
years. 

However, the age limit in each case is relaxable by five years for Scheduled Castes and Tribes, Gorkhas Garhwalis, and departmental candidates, or, in the case of Constables, for sons/daughters of deceased or retired police personnel. For women, the eligibility criteria are the same as that for men expect for the physical requirement standards.

Training

Police training colleges located in the various states provide intensive training in police rules, criminal law, local and special acts, as well as in dealing with emergencies like riots, fires and accidents. Outdoor training includes activities such as PT, drill, parade, riot control, cane-drill, unarmed combat, obstacle course, musketry, rifle and revolver shooting driving motor vehicles and study of elementary motor mechanisms. The duration of the training courses varies from nine to 12 months.

REMUNERATION

Pay scales for the officers in the state police services are laid down by the respective state governments. Exclusive of the additional allowances, are as follows:

Rank Pay scale

Constable: Rs 950 - Rs 1800
Assistant Sub-inspector: Rs 1410 - Rs 2460
Sub-inspector: Rs 1640 - Rs 2900
Inspector: Rs 1800 - Rs 3200
Asst. Commissioner of Police: Rs 2000 - Rs 3500

Jails and Prisons Department

The prisons department in each state is under the administrative control of the Inspector-General of Prisons. The hierarchy of posts in this department is as follows:

· Superintendent of Jails
· Jailor (Grade I)
· Assistant Jailor (Grade II)
· Head/Chief Warden
· Warden

Recruitment

The senior posts in the prisons/jail departments are generally filled either by promotion of departmental candidates or by deputation from the Indian Police Service. The other positions are occupied by state police officers.

Eligibility

In the case of Head/Chief wardens, 75% of the posts are filled by promotion or on transfer or deputation basis, but 25% are filled by direct recruitment. The eligible candidates should have passed the matriculate or equivalent examination and should be in the age group of 18 to 25 years. 

Former army men and former policemen with not less than three years of working experience in the army/police are considered for the post of Head/Chief warden. In the case of Associate Jailors, about 25% of the candidates are recruited directly. Apart from the physical requirements, they should also possess a degree from a recognized university.

The post of Deputy Superintendent (Grade II) is partly filled by departmental promotions from amongst Assistant Superintendents, and partly by direct recruitment. In the case of direct recruitment, second-class graduates, preferably those who possess a diploma in sociology, and are in the age group of 21 to 28 years, are eligible for the post of Deputy Superintendents (Grade II). 

The physical standards are the same as those prescribed for Assistant Superintendents Recruitment to this cadre is generally through the State Public Service Commissions.

Senior posts of Deputy Superintendents of district and Central jails are filled on promotion basis by transfer of officers from other states, working in the executive services. In certain states, direct recruitment is also made along with other state executive services, through the State Public Service Commission.

REMUNERATION

The pay scales in the prisons departments vary from state to state. However, the pay scales offered by the Delhi administration (prisons department) are as follows:

Deputy Superintendent: Rs 2000 - 3500 p.m., plus
(Grade I) special pay of Rs 200 p.m. 
Assistant Superintendent: Rs 1400 - 2300 p.m.
Warden: Rs 800 - 1150 p.m.


PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

A good physique, courage, tact, a cool temperament, good judgment, alertness in observation, loyalty, sincerity, devotion, a strong sense of discipline.

PRESSURES

Long and irregular hours of work, postings in remote areas, and in certain professions, risk to life.

REWARDS

These professions give a sense of satisfaction at having served the nation and its people, and therefore provide a tremendous amount of job satisfaction. Various material benefits are also provided to the officials in these services.

RELATED CAREERS 

Paramilitary services, other protective services, defense services.