Harish Rao slams Revanth Reddy Govt for plight of home guards in Telangana

BRS leader T Harish Rao criticised the Congress government for neglecting over 15,000 Home Guards in Telangana, highlighting unfulfilled promises on salaries, insurance, health cards, uniform allowances, and compassionate appointments, while praising the previous BRS administration for welfare measures.

Hyderabad: Taking strong exception to insults being heaped on home guards in the State through what he called ‘bizarre antics’, former minister and BRS leader T. Harish Rao criticised the Congress government for failing to implement its pre-election promises.

In a statement released on Home Guards Rising Day, Rao extended wishes to the over 15,000 Home Guards across the State while highlighting their invaluable contributions to public safety, disaster management, traffic control and law and order.

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Rao praised the previous BRS government’s efforts under former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao for recognizing the Home Guards’ services.

“The BRS government increased their salary from Rs 9,000 in 2014 to Rs 27,600. We provided a 30% risk allowance for those on traffic duty and introduced maternity leaves for women Home Guards to enhance their self-respect,” Rao said, adding that Chandrashekhar Rao personally met with Home Guards at Pragati Bhavan to address their unresolved issues, including salary hikes. The BRS administration introduced a Rs.5 lakh insurance payout for families in case of accidental death during duty and doubled the event management allowance from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000, he said, pointing out that the government spent over Rs 600 crore annually on salaries and allowances, enabling Home Guard families to live with dignity.

In contrast, Harish Rao criticized the Congress regime for minimal efforts, describing their addition of just Rs 79 to the daily wage, bringing it to Rs 1,000 from the BRS-era Rs 921. He alleged that despite making numerous promises before the elections, Revanth Reddy had not only failed to deliver but has also humiliated the Home Guards.

“The government and police department are extracting work from over 15,000 Home Guards statewide. But it has abandoned their welfare, pushing their lives to the brink,” Rao stated.

He pointed out that in the past two years, over 60 Home Guards has died, yet the compensation of Rs 5 lakh was provided only to those killed in road accidents, leaving natural death cases unaddressed.

He also listed several unfulfilled promises and ongoing issues. Government Order No.2 issued in January 2025 promised Rs.5 lakh compensation for natural deaths, but even after 10 months, no family had received it. The government assured issuance of health cards, but none had been provided, leading to untimely deaths due to lack of medical access.

Uniform allowances were pending for four years in districts outside Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and Rachakonda commissionerates. So far as the compassionate appointments were concerned, Revanth Reddy, while in opposition, pledged immediate compassionate jobs for the family of Home Guard Ravinder, but this remained unfulfilled. Rao further alleged that benefits like retirement perks, the abolition of the orderly system, and other allowances promised under Congress rule had become mere rhetoric.

He emphasized that Home Guards continued to perform duties amid these challenges, providing essential services to the public.