When the silence of night descends on a village's lanes, the distant thud of a stick and the sound of a whistle reassure everyone that everything is all right. In any village in Uttar Pradesh, these sounds remain synonymous with discipline and vigilance. We have known the person who walks through the lanes, wearing a turban, carrying a stick, and bearing the responsibility for the entire village's security on his shoulders, as a chowkidar since childhood. Yet, the needs of this person, who stands at the very bottom of the social ladder, went unaddressed for decades. If any government took a concrete step to break this cycle of neglect, it was the government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, which first restored dignity to the position by renaming it and has now decided to grant a second major increase in its honorarium.
The Gram Prahari post is not new. It originated under the North-Western Provinces Village Police Act of 1873, when the British government established it as an extension of the regular police force. During that period, these chowkidars were the real foundation of village law and order. Their uniforms commanded authority, their words carried weight, and the station house officer depended on them for information about the entire village. Independence came, and governments changed, but this system continued unchanged. Responsibility passed from father to son across generations, and in many places, police station officers simply handed the stick to someone they trusted, and that became tradition. The point is that no one seriously considered the status and condition of the person who bore the primary responsibility for village security.
This silence was broken on January 5, 2018. At a program organised at Varanasi Police Lines, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gave village chowkidars a new name, Gram Prahari. This was not merely a change of words. While the word 'Chowkidar' conveys the idea of keeping watch, 'Prahari' embodies both protection and dignity.
The name a person is addressed by determines their place in society. By changing the name, the government conveyed the message that the person guarding a village is not merely an employee but a respected pillar of the system. In the same year, the honorarium of these Gram Praharis was increased from ₹1,500 to ₹2,500. In other words, the effort to show respect was not confined to sentiments but also sought to translate that respect into financial benefits. Now, the Yogi government has taken another step in this direction. CM Yogi Adityanath has increased the honorarium of Praharis by another ₹1,000. They will now receive ₹3,500 per month, up from ₹2,500.
On October 13, CM Yogi announced an honorarium increase for about 68,000 Gram Praharis across the state, honouring them at a special program at the Bareilly Police Lines. This is a direct 40% increase, and each Prahari will receive an additional ₹12,000 over the course of a year. This will place an additional burden of about ₹7 crore per month, or around ₹84 crore annually, on the government exchequer, to be covered through the supplementary budget. Announced just before Diwali, this decision is truly a festive gift for households where lamps have continued to burn with very limited means. Moreover, by announcing cashless medical coverage of up to ₹5 lakh annually for Gram Praharis and their families, the CM sent a clear message that even someone at the lowest rung of society is among the government’s priorities.
Praharis are a strong link in village security, and when a CM’s respect for them is evident, it boosts their self-worth. They bridge villages and police stations and are the first and strongest link in the Home Department’s information network. Allahabad High Court has also described their work as the police’s third eye. Whether an unknown person enters a village, suspicious activity is noticed, two parties become embroiled in a land dispute, a theft occurs, or a major incident is possible, they are the first to inform the police station. Their presence is essential during disasters, elections, festive gatherings and peace committee meetings. Whether it is cold, rainy, or stormy, the Prahari stays awake even when the entire village is asleep.
Today, as crime methods have changed, the Prahari's usefulness has increased further. Villagers rent out bank accounts for cyber fraud, suspicious conversion-related activities take place, and the illegal liquor trade flourishes. The first person to get wind of all these activities is the one who knows every lane, every face and every change in the village. An officer sitting at the police station lacks this local understanding. Before any modern camera or technology, Prahari remains the village’s most trusted pair of eyes.
Most Gram Praharis work as labourers, farm, or take on other small jobs during the day and perform their duties as Praharis at night. Only someone with a deep sense of duty can shoulder this double burden. Many come from disadvantaged sections of society, and as a result, have long been placed at the lowest rung of the social ladder. They faced not only an identity crisis but also a lack of respect. Governments, too, remained indifferent. However, as part of its initiative to keep this position effective and active, the Yogi government gave them a dignified designation and also paid attention to their needs.
The decision to increase the honorarium of Praharis is part of the Yogi government’s consistent approach. Over the past few months, the government has provided relief to almost every category of worker who receives an honorarium. The honorarium of more than 3.5 lakh cooks preparing mid-day meals in council schools was increased from ₹2,000 to ₹3,000. The honorarium of Anganwadi workers was also raised from ₹8,000 to ₹12,000, while that of helpers increased from ₹4,000 to ₹6,000. The 57,000 Panchayat Sahayaks will receive ₹9,000 instead of ₹6,000, and the daily allowance for PRD personnel has increased from ₹500 to ₹600. Providing successive rounds of relief to those working at the lowest levels of the system clearly indicates this government’s priorities. The Gram Praharis have now had their turn in this sequence, and the government has addressed their case with full seriousness.
Strengthening the Gram Praharis system is, in effect, about making villages as vigilant as CCTV cameras, but with a camera that also possesses sensitivity and recognition. From their name to their honorarium, and from the public platform to the government's sentiment, the Yogi government has begun giving this neglected member of the force the place they have always deserved. The third eye is now receiving both its due and its respect, and that is the true test of the Yogi government’s sensitive governance.
(Views are personal)
Hari Mangal Singh,
Senior journalist
