VDFs demand higher honorarium, ration allowance
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 16, 2011:
Village Defense Force (VDF) personnel today demanded raise in monthly honorarium and ration allowance paid by the government.
They also drew the attention of the government Chief Minister in their demands.
Addressing a press conference spokesperson of the All Manipur VDF Welfare Union, even though they are discharging their service 24-hour, similar to that of police personnel, they are paying only Rs 3570 (Rs 3000 as honorarium and Rs 570 as ration allowance).
Government is not considering for revised of the honorarium and allowance they received even though state security forces and police personnel have enjoyed the revised sixth pay bands of the central government.
MR, IRB and Police are getting 13 month pays but the same facilities do not given to them.
They were unhappy when police or MR personnel who are staying in the same station or outpost share Rs 1000 as ration money against Rs 570 shared by them.
In such situation, they have to bring out extra money, the spokesperson said.
Including 300 SPO of Heirok, government recruited a total of 2300 VDF and assisting to the police and security force in the maintenance of law and order by attaching to the police stations and outposts.
Moreover, police department has recruited 10,000 VDF across the nine districts and are currently under armed training.
As such the strength of the VDF has risen to 12,300, he observed.
However, government is yet to announce its policy and others for the VDF personnel, he alleged.