From villages to valour 99 women complete Home Guard training

 

 

 

In the home district of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the Rani Bagicha parade ground came alive with the rhythmic sound of boots and commands as 99 women from remote villages of Jashpur marched in proud synchrony –marking the completion of their Home Guard training. The sight drew thunderous applause from families who had travelled miles to witness their daughters take their first step into disciplined public service. For these women, the passing-out parade was not merely a ceremonial event - it was a defining moment of self-reliance and courage. Most of them are first-generation learners, many from farming and tribal households, who overcame social and financial constraints to don the khaki uniform. Among them was Madhu Sai Chauhan from Pandripani village of Pathalgaon block. Holding her rifle steady, she saluted the dais with composure earned through 45 days of rigorous training. “This uniform carries the dreams of my family,” she said softly, her voice steady but eyes moist. Her father, standing beside her, struggled to hide his tears. “Our daughter has made us proud.

 

She is the first in our family to serve the government,” he said. Equally moving was the story of Reshma Bhagat, who cleared the Home Guard recruitment in her second attempt. “I failed once but didn’t give up. This time, I trained harder,” she shared, holding her mother’s hand tightly as the crowd cheered around her. The batch also included educated recruits like Sarawati Chauhan, an M.Com graduate with computer training, who described the 45-day regimen as transformative. “Each day began before sunrise and ended with drills on discipline, self-defence, and disaster response. It taught us resilience,” she said, standing tall among her peers. Home Guard Officer Vipin Kishore Lakra, under whose supervision the batch trained, said 100 candidates were selected for Jashpur, out of which 99 completed the course successfully.

 

“They will now be deployed across the district for duties ranging from public safety to disaster response,” he added. The passing-out ceremony also witnessed emotional moments as family members met their daughters after weeks of separation. Many had not returned home during the entire training period. The atmosphere turned poignant when parents, overwhelmed with pride, congratulated their daughters for completing the challenging course. Applause resonated through the ground as the women soldiers concluded their parade with salute and precision. In his concluding remarks, Home Guard Officer Vipin Kishore Lakra said, “The Home Guard stands as a pillar of discipline and community service. These women have proved their strength and commitment to public safety, and they will continue to serve society with integrity and responsibility.”