Home Guards Get ₹36 Lakh Health Cover in Vizag

Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha on Friday launched the ‘Home Guards Health Insurance Scheme’ for personnel working under the Visakhapatnam City Police, marking the first such initiative for Home Guards in the State.

The scheme will cover 975 Home Guards and provide a health insurance package comprising a base cover of ₹3 lakh along with a top-up cover of ₹33 lakh. Officials said nearly 3,144 family members are also expected to benefit.

Addressing the gathering, Ms. Anitha said the initiative reflected the State government’s focus on extending welfare measures to police personnel across all levels, including Home Guards, who she said play a key role in maintaining law and order alongside regular police staff.

Pointing out that Home Guards are not eligible for compassionate appointments like police constables and often struggle with access to healthcare, the Minister said the insurance coverage would enable them and their families to avail treatment at major corporate hospitals.

She said welfare initiatives would improve the morale of personnel and help them perform their duties with greater confidence. The government, she added, would continue to support Home Guards and their families.

Referring to a recent initiative by the Tirupati Police, Ms. Anitha said children of constables and Home Guards who performed well in Class X examinations had been felicitated, adding that the government would also encourage and support the education of Home Guards’ children.

Shankhabrata Bagchi said Home Guards were among the hardest-working personnel in the police system but earned only around ₹21,000 a month despite working daily.

“In such circumstances, many Home Guards are unable to take care of their own health and that of their family members. Keeping this in mind, the department decided to introduce the insurance scheme,” he said.