Apart from Police, Army, Navy, Air Force and other security agencies, the Home Guards were raised to provide protection to citizens in any untoward situation. The role of Home Guards is to service as an auxiliary to the Police in maintenance of law and order and internal security, help the community in any kind of emergency such as an air-raid, fire, cyclone, earthquake, epidemic etc, help in maintenance of essential services, promote communal harmony and assist the administration in protecting weaker sections, participate in socio-economic and welfare activities and perform Civil Defense duties.

Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards Acts and Rules of the States/Union Territories. They are recruited from various cross-sections of the people such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, professionals, Government Servants, employees of public and private sector organizations, college and university students, agricultural and industrial workers etc., who give their spare time to the organization for betterment of the community. All citizens of India, who are in the age group of 18-50, are eligible to become members of Home Guards. Normal tenure of membership in Home Guards is three to five years.

A Home Guard, whenever called up for duty/training, is paid duty/training allowance at prescribed rates to meet out of pocket expenses. Members of Home Guards with three years services in the organization are trained in police in maintenance of law and order, prevention of crime, anti-dacoity measures, border patrolling, flood relief, prohibition, fire fighting, elections and social welfare activities. In the event of national emergency, some portion of Civil Defense work is also entrusted to the Home Guards.

History

It was on the 6th of December in 1946 that the first Home Guards Unit was conceived and raised. The Unit was born as a civilian voluntary force in aid of administration as an auxiliary to Police because of the turmoil period of civil disorders and communal riots in the erstwhile Bombay State. Therefore, every year is celebrated throughout the nation as Raising Day of the organization.

After the raising Home Guards in 1946, the concept of the voluntary citizens force was adopted by several States. In the wake of Chinese aggression in 1962, the Centre advised the States and Union Territories to merge their existing voluntary organization into one uniform voluntary force known as Home Guards.

Home Guards are of two types - rural and urban. In border States, Border Wing Home Guards Battalions have also been raised, which serve as an auxiliary to the Border Security Forces. The total strength of Home Guards in the country is well over 6,00,000 against the raised strength of 4,05,043 Home Guards. The organization is spread over in all States and Union Territories except in Arunachal Pradesh and Kerala.