VDF's demands under 'consideration': Dy CM
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 28 2015 :
If only for the financial constraints and some technical problems, the demands of VDF personnel would have been already ad-dressed effectively.
None- theless, the State Government has been considering their demands, claimed Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam.
Addressing a press meet at his Manipur Secretariat office today, Gaikhangam clarified that there is no question of the State Government side-stepping the demands raised by VDF personnel.
But there is a gulf of difference between Manipur Police and VDF in terms of recruitment, training and many other aspects.
As such, there are certain technical difficulties to translate their (VDF) demands into action.
In addition, the State exchequer is not rich enough to raise their monthly honorarium.
At present, there are around 10,050 VDF volunteers.
At first, they were given monthly honorarium of Rs 4000 which was inclusive of ration money fixed at Rs 1000.This figure was hiked to Rs 5000 recently.
Any further hike even by at least Rs 1000 would give a serious blow to the State's financial position.
Notably, VDF personnel called a bandh today demanding monthly honorarium of Rs 10,000, payment of honorariums for 13 months in a year, service protection and transformation of VDF as a regular force.
While acknowledging the exhausting duties performed by VDF personnel, Gaikhangam remarked that VDF personnel have been contributing significantly in improving the State's law and order situation even though there were/are a few rogue personnel.
Being an armed force, taking recourse to extreme methods of agitation would be undesirable.
Gaikhangam conveyed that VDF representatives were holding a meeting with the DGP and he was awaiting the outcome of the meeting.
He also confided that the VDF personnel would call off their protest agitation.