Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday announced to double the monthly allowance being given to Chowkidars (watchmen) in the state, from Rs 3,500 to Rs 7,000, in addition of Rs 2,500 as uniform allowance instead of Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 instead of Rs 750 earlier for stick, battery, whistle and umbrella.

He also announced that they would be provided bicycles within three months. While addressing a State Level Chowkidar Sammelan in Hisar, Khattar said that the Chowkidars would get the increased monthly allowance with effect from 1 April, this year.

He also announced that those Chowkidars who were removed from the services during the period from 2014 to 2017 but they keep on discharging their services during these years would also be provided their full salaries. About 150 to 200 Chowkidars would be benefited with this decision.

Complaints had been received that these chowkidars worked during this period but were removed from the services without giving them their salaries, he added.

The CM said that the present state government has always been concerned about the welfare of Chowkidars. The state government had already increased their age of retirement from 60 years to 65 years. The state government is soon going to advertise the posts of group D category in which there would be no interview and selection would be made on the basis of written examination.

Apart from this, weightage of five marks would be given to those candidates in whose family no member is in the government job. The Chowkidar who is Class X pass and having age of less than 42 years could also apply for these jobs, he added.

While describing corruption as cancer, he said that the present state government has streamlined the system by making effective use of Information Technology (IT). After the concept of educated Panchayats, now the state government has decided to implement e-Panchayat, he said while assuring all support and cooperation to the village Panchayats in implementing this system. He said that requisite training would also be provided to the Panchayats.

Describing the Chowkidars as the real vigilantes of villages, he said the crime and other incidents were usually spotted by the police but there were some hidden crimes which were reported only by the Chowkidars.

He said that the present state government was committed to restore the status of Chowkidar by giving them proper dress and stick as during the last few years, their work has been limited to village announcers only. The Chowkidars were linked with the activities of three government departments of Home, Revenue and Development and Panchayats.