Bareilly: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday honoured village watchmen for their contributions to policing and crime prevention at a ceremony held at the Police Lines in Bareilly. He also announced an increase in the monthly honorarium of 68,000 village watchmen from ₹2,500 to ₹3,500 and cashless medical treatment worth up to ₹5 lakh annually for their families.
The 40 per cent increase will provide each village watchman an additional ₹12,000 annually. The Chief Minister said their remuneration had risen from ₹1,500 in 2017 to ₹2,500 in 2019 and would now be increased to ₹3,500, recognising their important role in maintaining rural security.
Adityanath urged village watchmen to act as the eyes and ears of the police in rural areas, promptly reporting suspicious activities, crime, illegal land occupation and threats to public order. He asked station house officers and local sub-inspectors to meet village watchmen at least once a week to strengthen intelligence networks and prevent minor incidents from escalating into major disputes.
He also called for timely reporting of wildlife threats, rumours and land-mafia activities, stressing that early information could prevent serious incidents. Referring to leopard rescues in the state, he highlighted the importance of vigilance in districts such as Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich and Bijnor. He encouraged watchmen to help villagers remain alert to cyber fraud and misinformation circulating on social media.
The Chief Minister said improved law and order had supported investment, trade and employment in Uttar Pradesh. He also pointed to the growing participation of devotees at major religious sites during Navratri as an indication of a more secure environment.
Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said the honorarium increase reflected the government’s recognition of village watchmen’s contribution to rural peace. Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister Dharampal Singh welcomed the Chief Minister to Bareilly. Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna described village watchmen as a vital link between villages and police stations and called for stronger information-sharing through digital volunteers and WhatsApp groups.
During the ceremony, Adityanath honoured 11 village watchmen for outstanding service by presenting them with traditional turbans, gift hampers and certificates of appreciation. The awardees included Rajveer Singh of Faridpur, Bareilly; Kunwar Pal Singh of Sirauli; Ram Rathore of Baheri; Rajendra Valmiki of Sungarhi, Pilibhit; Kamlesh of Puwayan, Shahjahanpur; Kamlesh Singh Saini of Kanth, Moradabad; Rajesh Saini of Bijnor Kotwali; Anil Valmiki of Hazratnagar Garhi, Sambhal; Dhyan Singh Chauhan and Prakash of Rampur district; and Tejpal Prajapati of Naugawan Sadat, Amroha.
A short film highlighting the contribution of village watchmen was screened at the event, and the Chief Minister took a selfie with the award recipients.
Several ministers, elected representatives and senior officials attended the ceremony, including Forest and Environment Minister Dr Arun Kumar, Cooperation Minister J.P.S. Rathore, Sugarcane Development Minister Sanjay Singh Gangwar, Bareilly Mayor Dr Umesh Gautam, DGP Rajeev Krishna, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad, Additional DGP Ramit Sharma, District Magistrate Avinash Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya.
Following the programme, Adityanath participated in a plantation drive at the Circuit House under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan.
