Village Defence Force bodies decry cabinet decision
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 24 2024: Ukhrul District VDF Welfare Association (UDVDFA) has expressed frustration and discontent over the recent cabinet decision of approving the inter-district transfer and posting of Village Defence Forces (VDF) personnel.

In a release jointly issued by president Chipemmi Raising and general secretary Wungrinshem Lungleng on Wednesday, the Association accused the government of favouritism in taking such decision.

The Association termed the cabinet decision as a "bombshell" to the organisation, making the VDF personnel feel like they are being "used like a servant, placed wherever and whenever they are required." It argued that while the VDF have been serving as law enforcers for over 15 years in far-flung areas, maintaining law and order, the government has never considered and approved their long-standing demand for an increment in their monthly honorarium.

UDVDFA demanded that the government address the issue of increasing the VDFs monthly honorarium before implementing the inter-district transfer and posting decision.

It further mentioned that it will support any form of agitation taken up by the All Manipur VDF Employee Welfare Association in this regard.

Meanwhile, Bishnupur District VDF Welfare Association has echoed similar sentiment over the cabinet decision.

In a statement, the association said that the government has been denying the VDF personnel of appropriate honorarium and the recent cabinet decision will exacerbate their issues.

It demanded the government to provide all the benefits and financial entitlements given the police, MR or IRB personnel if the government wants to go ahead with the cabinet decision of inter-district transfer and posting of VDF personnel.

The association also pledged support to every decision taken by the Central Committee of All Manipur VDF Employee Welfare Association in this regard.

Meanwhile, appreciating the cabinet's decision for transfer of VDFs from one district to another on July 12, Kakching District VDF Welfare Association has urged for discussing the long pending demands of VDF by July 31 and increase honorarium of the personnel.

According to Association general secretary Md Alimudin, a meeting of the Association was held on Wednesday wherein the present conditions of VDF personnel was discussed.

Although the Associatiop lauded the cabinet's July 12 decision, the issue regarding the service security and honorarium for VDF personnel were not mentioned, he lamented.

Md Alimudin continued that VDF personnel have been assisting in maintaining law and order since 2009 but are receiving only Rs 10,000 per month without any benefits from the government.

The honorarium amount is not compatible with the rising cost of food and other items or in taking care of one's family or educating the children.

As such, VDF personnel have been demanding for increasing the pay for a long time whereas the state government has been continuing with its give step-motherly treatment of VDF personnel.

Thus, he urged the government to take up their demands in a cabinet meeting before July 31 and further discus the same in the upcoming session of the assembly, and ensure equal pay with the VDF's counterpart in the state forces.

Any failure to do so will compel the VDFs to launch intense agitations, he cautioned.

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