Agartala, February 1: Rendering almost same duties like Police and Tripura State Rifles (TSR), home guards in Tripura are being deprived of getting special pay benefit since its inception till date. The state government and the concerned authority also remained tight-lipped to introduce ‘special pay’ facility for the home guards.

According to a member of All Tripura Home-guards Starring Committee, though, the state government introduced pension to the home guards and extended their retirement ages from 58 to 60 years, but the state government failed to release special pay by depriving the home guards till date.

“Around 1, 116 home guard staffs are there in service across the state with a very low-amount which is less then REGA workers’ wage. As a result, the home guard staffs are quite unable to cope up with the rapidly rising prices and to run their families”, said he.

“The home guards are rendering duties almost identical to those performed by policemen and TSR including assistance in road traffic, help to maintain law and order, and work with VIPs, besides supporting the functioning of state establishments”, added the member.

He further alleged that while the police personnel and TSR getting special pay in Tripura, the home guards are being deprived of getting this facility, which can help them a lot.

Despite several deputations to Chief Minister and other concerned authorities and protests since 1977, the state government is failed to fulfill the demands of the home guards by not giving the benefit till date, he said.

On the other hand, All Tripura Home-guards Starring Committee demanded to state government for increasing the pension of retired home guards from Rs. 750 to 3000.

It is worthy to mention here, the Left Front ruled state government had introduced the pension scheme of Rs. 750 to the home guards on November 08, 2012.