Odisha gram rakhis get monthly remuneration hike from Rs 1,800 to Rs 2,500

Bhubaneswar: State govt on Thursday hiked the monthly remuneration of ‘gram rakhis’ (village guards) from Rs 1,800 to Rs 2,500.According to a statement from the chief minister’s office, gram rakhis play a crucial role in maintaining law and order, identifying criminals and strengthening community policing in villages.The govt also introduced a mandatory attendance system. “Gram rakhis are required to report to the police station under whose jurisdiction they operate at least once a week to mark their attendance,” the statement said.The move follows the Orissa high court’s directive in July 2024, when the court expressed serious concern over the meagre allowances paid to gram rakhis and asked the home department to address their grievances by providing fair remuneration.Odisha has around 18,400 gram rakhis, who serve as volunteers assisting local police in a wide range of duties. “We perform like police personnel and form an integral part of the community policing system at the village level. We regularly collect intelligence and crime reports from the grassroots and forward them to the local police station. Although we welcome the govt’s decision to increase our allowance, the amount remains very modest,” a gram rakhi said.