VDF demands appropriate honorarium
Source: The Sangai Express
Bishnupur/Thoubal, July 15 2018:
As a part of All Manipur Village Defence Force Welfare Association's cease work strike since July 11 demanding appropriate honorariums, personnel of VDF including their family members staged mass sit-in-protests in Thoubal and Bishnupur districts Sunday.
In Bishnupur, VDF personnel staged sit-in-protest at sub-divisional Head Quarters of Bishnupur, Moirang and Nambol.
About 1,350 VDF personnel of the district have left their posts since July 11 in protest against Government's apathy towards the force.
The sit-in-protest was jointly organised by Bishnupur District VDF Welfare Association, Bishnupur District VDF Guardian Association and Meira Paibi Lup at Moirang Patlou Leikai in front of Loktak Modern Fish market for Moirang sub-division while for Nambol sub-division it was held at Hao Keithel Nambol Bazar.
For Bishnupur sub-division, the sit-in-protest was held at Kiyamba Ningsing Shanglen.
Bishnupur District VDF Welfare Association spokesperson Kh Pramodini said appropriate honorarium should be given to the VDF personnel in order to meet their ends and support families.
All Manipur VDF Welfare Association president L Deban Singh reiterated the demand of the association that the VDF personnel should be given at least 75 percent of what the State Police, MR and IRB are getting as their salary.
Calling on the Government to discuss the issue and deliberate an amicable solution before July 21, the association (AMVDFWA) warned that it will launch intense agitation if the Government and the authority concerned failed to meet their demands.
In Thoubal, the sit-in protest was held at Thoubal Wangmataba Community Hall.
President of Thoubal District VDF Welfare Association Md Idrish while speaking to the media persons, lamented that no positive response has been received so far from the authority concerned even as the cease work strike entered 5th day.
VDF personnel are performing duty similar to the State Police, MR and IRB but they are treated inferior and is reflected in their salary, he said.
He pointed out that the monthly salary received by the VDF personnel are still far from the mandated Labour Department's minimum wage of Rs 9,370 per month.
We are not demanding the same salary as that of State Police, MR and IRB but at least 75 percent of what they are getting, he said.