VDFs protest
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 18 2018:
All Manipur Village Defense Force Welfare Association launched a 10 day arms down strike from today and staged a sit-in-protest at Porompat PS demanding appropriate honorarium as per present skilled labour rate including arms allowance of Village Defence Force (VDF) personnel.
The protest was launched after the failure of the State Government to take up any positive actions regarding their demands for appropriate honorarium of VDF personnel.
Speaking to media persons, member of the association, A Chaoba said that the VDF personnel have been demanding the State Government to provide appropriate honorarium as per present skilled labour rate including arms allowance.
He said that the personnel want to maintain their service records and they are performing duties similar to the State police but they are paid pittance and that too not regularly.
Stating that the personnel have been performing their duties without honorarium for the last two and a half month, he said that if the State Government fails to take up any positive actions, the VDF personnel will launch various agitation.
It may be mentioned that a memorandum was submitted to the Chief Minister on May 10 and the memorandum demanded the honorarium of VDF personnel to be given as pet present labour rate including arms allowance on a regular basis.
The memorandum also demanded proper guidelines, terms and conditions to be issued for better service condition of the VDF.
It demanded VDF personnel to be allowed to maintain and manage the account of their ration money by themselves for accountability, reimbursement in case of any illness or casualty while in service, introduction of good service/gallantry reward scheme specially for VDF personnel ta boost their morale and timely issue of material or allowances at least on regular yearly basis.
It also lamented that ex gratia scheme has not been implemented by the Govt till date despite having terms and conditions of VDF and appealed for implementation of the scheme, re numeration/ honorarium of VDF to be given as per skilled labour rate including arms allowance as per direction of the Central sphere on a regular basis, to provide jobs to the family members of the VDF in case of death or disability, during duty.
The memorandum also demanded establishment of VDF battalion for better service and discipline in VDF personnel.