VDFs stage sit-in protest
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 18 2022:
Persisting with their demands pending for the last 13 years, Village Defence Force (VDF) and their families staged sit-in protest at Green Community hall, Top Khongnangmakhong on Monday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the protest organised by Imphal East District VDF Guardians' Association, All Manipur VDF Guardians' Association secretary S Bina Leima pointed out that VDF personnel are facing tremendous inconveniences in sustaining their families with their meagre honorarium of Rs 8,500 .
While maintaining that VDF are working similarly like police constable, she urged the government to
have sympathy on the VDF who are working day and night and increase their honorarium in tune with the changing times.
The government should not disregard them because of being small post, she added.
Expressing regret that the government did not even discuss the demands of the VDF till now, Bina said that failure of the government to provide honorarium in accordance with changing times is similar to violating the rights of VDFs, who have been working dedicatedly for the government.
She cautioned of a possible civil war if the government continues to neglect the demands and further asserted that the government should be held responsible if the VDFs took the wrong path out of frustration.