Govt to recruit home guards from fishing community for marine police stations | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: To further strengthen coastal security, the state govt has decided to create a dedicated pool of marine home guards recruited from the fishing community. At least 270 marine home guards will be posted in 18 marine police stations across seven police districts, officers said.
The recruitment strategy will prioritise candidates from marine fishing communities, valuing their expertise in navigating sea routes, manoeuvring vessels, understanding of maritime weather conditions and swimming capabilities.
“Traditional home guards stationed at police stations lack the specific skills required for marine duties. We will hire home guards from the marine fishing community,” director general (home guards) Sudhansu Sarangi told TOI.
Sources said the decision was taken after observing that existing home guards deployed in marine police stations lack the skills of marine policing. Officials said that marine police stations require personnel with distinct competencies compared to conventional police stations.
The programme seeks to boost sea patrol and monitoring along the coastal areas. Each marine police station will receive 15 home guards to monitor their designated coastal zones. The distribution includes four marine police stations in Puri, three each in Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Balasore, and one each in Ganjam and Berhampur.
Police officers said that selecting individuals from fishing communities will incorporate crucial local knowledge and seafaring expertise into coastal security operations. “These communities have historically acted as unofficial coastal watchers, making them suitable for formal security responsibilities. They know the fishermen operating in the sea. They can identify intruders. The initiative will serve a dual purpose — strengthening coastal security while providing employment opportunities to our fishing communities,” another police officer said.
The home guards will collaborate with existing maritime security forces, including the Coast Guard and marine police. Their responsibilities will encompass routine patrolling, surveillance of suspicious activities and support in rescue operations.
The govt plans to provide specialised training to the selected candidates in modern maritime security practices, communication protocols and emergency response procedures. The development comes as part of the state’s broader coastal security enhancement plan, following Centre’s instructions to increase surveillance along the country’s coastline.
The recruitment strategy will prioritise candidates from marine fishing communities, valuing their expertise in navigating sea routes, manoeuvring vessels, understanding of maritime weather conditions and swimming capabilities.
“Traditional home guards stationed at police stations lack the specific skills required for marine duties. We will hire home guards from the marine fishing community,” director general (home guards) Sudhansu Sarangi told TOI.
Sources said the decision was taken after observing that existing home guards deployed in marine police stations lack the skills of marine policing. Officials said that marine police stations require personnel with distinct competencies compared to conventional police stations.
The programme seeks to boost sea patrol and monitoring along the coastal areas. Each marine police station will receive 15 home guards to monitor their designated coastal zones. The distribution includes four marine police stations in Puri, three each in Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Balasore, and one each in Ganjam and Berhampur.
Police officers said that selecting individuals from fishing communities will incorporate crucial local knowledge and seafaring expertise into coastal security operations. “These communities have historically acted as unofficial coastal watchers, making them suitable for formal security responsibilities. They know the fishermen operating in the sea. They can identify intruders. The initiative will serve a dual purpose — strengthening coastal security while providing employment opportunities to our fishing communities,” another police officer said.
The home guards will collaborate with existing maritime security forces, including the Coast Guard and marine police. Their responsibilities will encompass routine patrolling, surveillance of suspicious activities and support in rescue operations.
The govt plans to provide specialised training to the selected candidates in modern maritime security practices, communication protocols and emergency response procedures. The development comes as part of the state’s broader coastal security enhancement plan, following Centre’s instructions to increase surveillance along the country’s coastline.
