The Chief Minister's Office of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, 1 June 2026 shared that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has reaffirmed the state government's commitment to the welfare of Uttar Pradesh Home Guard volunteers and their families, stating that their well-being is the 'highest priority.' Addressing a review meeting, CM Yogi was informed that a nominated dependent of a Home Guard volunteer who dies during service is entitled to an ex-gratia assistance of Rs 5 lakh. The post quoted him as saying: 'Swayamsevako aur unke parivaron ka hit sarvoch prathamikta hai' ['The welfare of volunteers and their families is the highest priority.']

Context

The Uttar Pradesh Home Guard is a state volunteer auxiliary force that assists the police in maintaining law and order, supporting disaster response operations, and managing election duties. Volunteers are not regular salaried employees, making structured welfare provisions especially significant for their families. The state government began systematic ex-gratia disbursements to the families of deceased Home Guard volunteers from December 2020 onward. The meeting disclosed that from December 2020 to date, ex-gratia amounts totalling Rs 157.65 crore have been distributed across 3,153 cases.

Policy Backdrop

Uttar Pradesh has pursued parallel tracks of financial welfare for auxiliary security personnel alongside organisational modernisation of forces such as the Home Guards and the Provincial Armed Constabulary. The ex-gratia scheme for Home Guard families sits within this broader state-level effort to extend social-security coverage to volunteers who serve in hazardous conditions without the full benefits of regular police employment. CM Yogi stated that developing the Uttar Pradesh Home Guard Organisation into a 'modern, capable, disciplined force always ready for public service' is a priority of the state government. This signals intent to move beyond welfare alone and invest in the operational capacity of the force.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of the ex-gratia scheme are the nominated dependents — typically spouses or parents — of Home Guard volunteers who die in the line of duty. The Rs 5 lakh one-time payment provides immediate financial relief to families who may otherwise have no formal pension or insurance safety net. For active volunteers, the assurance of modernisation — better training, equipment, and organisational structure — directly affects their working conditions and professional standing. A more capable and disciplined force also has downstream benefits for law-and-order management across Uttar Pradesh, one of India's most populous states.

What's Next

The Chief Minister's emphasis on modernisation suggests that policy attention to the Home Guards may extend into future budget cycles. Observers will watch whether the next Uttar Pradesh state budget or annual police modernisation review includes dedicated allocations for Home Guard infrastructure, training, or expanded welfare coverage. With the ex-gratia programme already covering over 3,000 families since its systematic rollout in 2020, the government may also consider whether the Rs 5 lakh ceiling warrants revision in line with inflation or comparable schemes for other auxiliary forces.