New list of 94 home guards prepared to optimise traffic management in Kozhikode

The volume of traffic during peak hours creates a chokepoint at many intersections in Kozhikode city.
| Photo Credit:
K. Ragesh

A new list of 94 home guards has been prepared by a district-level selection panel to fill current and upcoming vacancies in Kozhikode district. The contractual appointment is expected to optimise traffic management in Kozhikode city and mofussil towns, besides, support the Fire department in rescue services.  

From the newly prepared list, 21 candidates will be appointed soon to fill the vacancies already reported. According to officials, the sectioned strength of home guards in the district is now 400. Among the existing personnel, eight are women who previously served the Central Reserve Police Force. However, no women candidates were shortlisted in the latest list.

The recruitment process involved a physical fitness test and certificate verification by a district-level panel comprising senior police and Fire and Rescue Services department officers. There were a total of 144 applications to be considered for the district-level selection drive. The home guards would be eligible to continue in the job till the age of 63.

According to officers now part of the selection board, candidates from the newly prepared list will be considered when vacancies arise due to termination of service, expiry of contractual term or voluntary resignation. It is strictly maintained like a Public Service Commission shortlist, they added.

“At present, home guards receive a daily wage of ₹820 with a monthly remuneration ceiling of ₹22,960. All of them have military experience and are equipped to meet the district’s demand in their respective areas,” said a Fire and Rescue Services officer who was part of the selection process. He added that the selection was completed with the aim of maintaining adequate manpower for public safety and administrative requirements.

District Police Chief (Kozhikode City) T. Narayanan and District Fire Officer Ashraf Ali were the chairman and convener, respectively, of the district-level selection board. Deputy Commissioner of Police Arun K. Pavithran, Fire Force Station Officers Roby Varghese and C.K. Muraleedharan, Assistant Station Officer A. Abdul Faizy, and Section Officer Premnath Mangalassery were present during the selection process.