Decent monthly honorarium is far better than any scheme announced: VDFs
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 12 2018:
Deeply concerned with the inaction of the State Government on the things it had agreed to with the All Manipur VDF Welfare Association, the association has appealed the Government and all members of the Manipur Assembly to expedite the discussion of the issue honorarium of the personnel in the coming Winter Session without fail.
Saying that about 10,050 personnel are living on meagre monthly honorarium of Rs 6,730, Md Riyas Khan, general secretary of the VDF association at Manipur Press recalled that the VDFs have been appealing the Government for a fair and appropriate monthly honorarium since several months.
The Chief Minister had in July gave the association assurance that the matter of the honorarium will be discussed and addressed soon, he said and added that so far there is no progress or development in the matter.
"Recent announcement of the Government that the VDF personnel will be provided the same benefit given to MR, IRB in case of death on duty/injuries etc is fortunate.
We welcome the move of the Government.
But this benefit is not the solution to our demand," he said.
"The beneficial scheme announced can not take away the limelight from the main issue.
A decent monthly honorarium is far better than any scheme announced," he said.
Alleging that honorarium of three months (including December) have not been released till date, he appealed the Government and authorities concerned to release the due honorarium of three months before December 21.Urging the 60 MLAs to discuss the proposed decent monthly honorarium and mat ter of service security in the Winter Session scheduled for December 20 and 21, the association cautioned the Government that it will launch intense agitation from Decem ber 22, if the matters are not discussed.