Bhubaneswar: Private Security Guards, who are an important constituent of the State’s security setup, have now requested the State Government that they be treated as Front Line Workers (FLW)s and vaccinated at the earliest.
At present, there are around 2 lakh Private Security Personnel working across the State.
They are present at the hospitals, malls, factories, hotels, market complex, and residential complexes.
90 Percent Private Security Personnel are between the age group of 25-45 and there is a practical need that these critical work force are needed to be treated as FLWs and vaccinated on priority basis.
These guards have also been trained in handling bio-medical waste, a crucial exercise in this COVID Pandemic.
Ironically, guards have been roped in for the successful rollout of the vaccination drive, said stakeholders wondering why they were left out of the vaccination list covering essential service workers in the first place.
Manas Choudhury, President Odisha Private Security Agency Owners Association has written to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in this regard.
While complimenting the State Government for handling the COVID-19 Pandemic in a much better manner than the other States, he has requested to consider Private Security Guards as FLWs and extend the required benefits being provided by the State Government.
Mr.Choudhury has also requested the Chief Minister to declare them as COVID Warriors and provide them Vaccine and recognize their efforts.
He has requested Chief Minister to direct the officials to work in conjunction with the organization and make sure that these essential services workers are treated in a fair and respectful manner.