Bokaro: Over 1,800 home guards deployed in Bokaro district have not received their salaries for the past three months. Officials attribute the delay to a technical issue and an ongoing verification process.
Financial Hardships for Home Guards
Many home guards have reported that the prolonged salary delay has made it difficult to manage household expenses, pay children's school fees, and meet loan obligations. The district has 1,870 home guards, including 597 women, who are affected.
Appeal for Immediate Payment
The personnel have appealed to district authorities for the immediate release of their pending salaries. District Commandant (Home Guard) Kiran Kumari stated that the delay is linked to a verification process being conducted by the headquarters. "Documents and bank account details of all home guard personnel are being verified. The verification is expected to be completed this week, after which salaries will be transferred directly to their bank accounts," she said. She added that a request for fund allocation is being sent to the headquarters, and they are hopeful that all pending salaries will be cleared within a week.
Background of the Delay
Officials revealed that the issue emerged after a multi-crore salary withdrawal scam linked to the Bokaro treasury was uncovered. In April, three individuals, including accountant Kaushal Kumar Pandey posted at the Bokaro SP's office, were arrested and sent to judicial custody for allegedly fraudulently withdrawing over Rs 4.29 crore from the treasury. Consequently, the headquarters initiated a statewide verification of home guard personnel and their bank accounts, causing the salary disbursement delays.
