Odisha Government Announces Significant Pay Hike for Village Guards
The Odisha state government has taken a decisive step to enhance the welfare of its frontline community policing personnel. On Thursday, authorities announced a substantial increase in the monthly remuneration for gram rakhis, commonly known as village guards, raising their compensation from Rs 1,800 to Rs 2,500 per month.
Strengthening Community Policing Infrastructure
According to an official statement released from the chief minister's office, gram rakhis perform indispensable functions in maintaining law and order across rural Odisha. These dedicated volunteers serve as the eyes and ears of the police force in remote villages, actively identifying criminals, gathering grassroots intelligence, and forwarding critical crime reports to local police stations.
The statement emphasized that these village guards form an integral component of the community policing framework at the village level, bridging the gap between formal law enforcement agencies and local communities.
New Attendance System Implementation
Alongside the remuneration enhancement, the government has introduced a mandatory attendance mechanism to ensure greater accountability and regular coordination. Under the new system, all gram rakhis must report to their jurisdictional police station at least once every week to officially mark their attendance.
This procedural requirement aims to strengthen the operational linkage between village guards and formal police structures while ensuring consistent engagement in their community policing responsibilities.
High Court Directive Spurs Government Action
The government's decision follows a significant judicial intervention earlier this year. In July 2024, the Orissa High Court expressed serious concern about the inadequate allowances provided to gram rakhis and directed the state's home department to address their legitimate grievances through fair remuneration adjustments.
The court's directive highlighted the critical role these volunteers play in Odisha's rural security apparatus and recognized the need for appropriate compensation that reflects their contributions to public safety.
Ground Reality and Personnel Perspectives
Odisha currently employs approximately 18,400 gram rakhis who assist local police across a wide spectrum of duties, from crime prevention to intelligence gathering. While welcoming the government's decision to increase their allowance, some village guards have noted that the revised amount remains relatively modest considering their extensive responsibilities.
"We perform duties similar to regular police personnel and constitute a fundamental part of the community policing system at the village level," explained one gram rakhi. "Although we appreciate the government's initiative to enhance our allowance, the compensation still falls short of adequately recognizing our daily contributions to rural security."
The remuneration hike and attendance system implementation represent the state government's dual approach to both improving welfare measures for village guards while simultaneously enhancing the structural framework of community policing across Odisha's rural landscape.
