VARANASI, Oct. 14 -- The 'Uttar Pradesh Gram Prahari' felicitation ceremony was held at the Police Lines briefing hall in Varanasi on Tuesday, celebrating the contributions of village guards (Gram Praharis) serving across the Varanasi Commissionerate. Presided over by police commissioner Mohit Agarwal, the event featured a live broadcast of an address by the chief minister Yogi Adityanath. During the ceremony, Agarwal underscored the vital role of Gram Praharis as the backbone of the local policing system, noting their essential function in monitoring village-level activities and assisting in crime control. The Commissioner praised the state government's decision to increase the Gram Praharis' monthly honorarium by Rs.1,000, a 40 percent hike that brings their monthly pay to Rs.3,500. Additionally, he highlighted the introduction of cashless medical facilities of up to Rs.5 lakh as a significant welfare measure for the village guards. htc...