The recruitment process for Home Guards has resumed after nearly a decade, following the directive of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai. A total of 465 vacancies are available in the districts under the Bilaspur Revenue Division. The recruitment drive will take place from September 16 to October 1 at the Fire and SDRF grounds in Bharni Parsada, with approximately 21,000 applicants vying for the positions. Bilaspur Collector Shri Awanish Sharan and SP Shri Rajnesh Singh visited the venue on September 10 to oversee the preparations and instructed the officials to ensure all necessary arrangements are in place.
According to DIG of Fire and Emergency Services, Shri S.K. Thakur, 200 of the 465 approved vacancies are designated for male home guards, while 265 positions are for female home guards in women's hostels. The daily physical efficiency test, which will accommodate around 1,500 candidates, will include a 100-point evaluation. Male candidates will compete in the 100-meter run, 800-meter run, long jump, and high jump, while female candidates will participate in all events except the 100-meter run. Out of the 200 positions, the Bilaspur district has been allocated 75, and 25 positions each have been assigned to Mungeli, Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi, Raigarh, Korba, and Janjgir-Champa districts. All candidates have been issued call letters with specific test dates. They are required to bring several documents, including caste and residence certificates, employment registration, NCC-C certificates, heavy vehicle driving licenses, and sports competition certificates of division or higher levels.
During their visit, the Collector and SP of Bilaspur reviewed the preparations at the Fire and SDRF grounds, ensuring that responsibilities were assigned to the relevant officials. They emphasised the importance of ground levelling, fencing, and barricading, along with setting up event facilities, organising medical teams, ensuring the availability of drinking water, placing waste bins, providing mobile toilets, and making adequate arrangements for law and order, as well as traffic control around the recruitment site. DFO Shri Satyadev Sharma and Zila Panchayat CEO Shri Ramprasad Chauhan were also present.