Gaikhangam sees no wrong in VDF duties
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 02 2012:
Informing that 10,050 Village Defence Force (VDF) personnel are serving the State Government, Home Minister Gaikhangam has clarified that there is no question of misusing the VDF.
The Home Minister was responding to a query put up by MLA I Ibohalbi at the State Assembly today.
He said that the district-wise deployment of VDF is 2050 in Imphal East, 2050 in Imphal West, 2500 in Thoubal, 1350 in Bishnupur, 600 in Churachandpur, 300 in Chandel, 300 in Ukhrul, 600 in Senapati and 300 in Ukhrul.
Out of them, 481 personnel have been replaced with due permission of the DGP for different reasons like resignation, death or dismissal on disciplinary ground.
Necessary actions would be initiated if there was any mistake on the part of the VDF, the Home Minister stated.
The VDF was set up to protect villages from anti-social elements and solicit their cooperation when there is any armed confrontation between police and UG cadres.
The VDF personnel should not operate beyond their respective village jurisdictions.
The VDFs are never deployed for maintenance of law and order or armed confrontation with UG cadres.
VDFs must be housed in their camp under the command of a police station but as of now they are being attached to different police stations.
Claiming that the VDFs have been discharging their duties properly, Gaikhangam stated that their salaries can be increased if only the State had more resources.
Earlier, Dr I Ibohalbi while pointing out that there is no difference in the duties of police and VDF, suggested that VDFs may be given only such duties which would go in line with the objective of raising VDF.
Asking if advertisements were published before recruitment of VDFs, Dr Ibohalbi said that salaries of VDFs may be increased if their doing their duties properly.
To another question raised by MLA M Kunjo, Health and Family Welfare Minister Phungzathang Tonsing informed the House that construction work of a barrack type quarter of Hiyanglam PHC was in progress under National Rural Health Mission.
The estimated cost of the project is Rs 71,08,481 .
Responding to a query put up by Congress MLA Dr Ng Bijoy, Chief Minister O Ibobi who is in charge of Minor Irrigation Department conceded that five RLI schemes remained incomplete in Khurai AC.
Ibobi, nonetheless, assured that all the five schemes would be completed within this year.
In response to a question raised by MLA M Prithiviraj, Phungzathang Tonsing said that following upgradation of Kwakta PHSC to the level of a PHC, a proposal has been forwarded for construction of a new PHC building.
Once the building construction work is completed, necessary equipment, doctors and staff would be provided, Phungzathang added.