UP Gram Prahari Salary: Significant news has emerged for employees serving as Chowkidars (village watchmen) in Uttar Pradesh. Chief Minister Adityanath is expected to announce an increase in their honourarium before Diwali. Following this announcement, their monthly honorarium could see a hike of ₹1,000. This move stands to benefit approximately 60,000 *Chowkidars* across the state. If implemented, their monthly honorarium would rise from ₹2,500 to ₹3,500, resulting in an additional annual income of ₹12,000.

How ​​much will the monthly pay increase?
Currently, *Chowkidars* in UP receive a monthly honourarium of ₹2,500. With this hike, the amount will reach ₹3,500—representing a 40% increase. This adjustment means each Chowkidar will earn an extra ₹12,000 annually. Raising the honourarium for over 60,000 *Chowkidars* will entail an additional monthly expenditure of approximately ₹7 crore (and roughly ₹84 crore annually) for the government; the budget allocation is likely to be increased to accommodate this. CM Yogi announced this initiative during an event at the Bareilly Police Lines, and the *Chowkidars* are expected to receive the enhanced honorarium following the announcement.

What is a Gram Prahari, and what is their role?
A *Gram Prahari* acts as a liaison between the police and the villagers in rural areas. They operate under the Home Department and are affiliated with local police stations. Their responsibility is to report any suspicious activity or interpersonal disputes in the village to the police, thereby helping the police strengthen law and order.

Honorarium Increased for Various Employees Previously
The UP government has previously raised the honorarium for other categories of workers as well. Notably, the honorarium for cooks in council schools has been set at ₹3,000. The honourarium for Anganwadi workers and helpers has been increased by ₹4,000 and ₹2,000, respectively. Additionally, the daily allowance for Prantiya Rakshak Dal (PRD) volunteers has been raised from ₹500 to ₹600.

Increase in Pensions for the Elderly, Women, and Persons with Disabilities
Apart from *chowkidars* (village watchmen), the UP government has also proposed increasing the monthly pension amounts for the elderly, widows, and persons wiindividualsbilities from ₹1,000 to ₹1,500. Work is underway to advance this proposal following in-principle approval. According to reports, the proposal could be presented to the Cabinet during the second half of November. If approved, this move could benefit over 6.7 million elderly citizens, 4.2 million women, and 1.2 million persons with disabilities in the state.

When Will the Benefits Begin?
The proposal to increase the honourarium of chowkidars by ₹1,000 comes as welcome news for them. This will not only boost their monthly income but also provide an additional annual benefit of ₹12,000. While the state government has announced the hike, no specific official date for its implementation has been declared yet.