VDF personnel seek extension of service period
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 03 2025: Village Defence Force (VDF) personnel have urged the Government and authorities concerned to extend their service period by April 10 .

If the service period is not extended by the date given, a 10,050 strong VDF personnel will launch stringent State-wide agitation from the very next day (April 11), the All Manipur Village Defence Force Employees Welfare Association has warned.

At Manipur Press Club, the association's president, Laishram Deban said Manipur has a total of 10,050 VDF personnel, and their service is extended every year by the State Home Department.

VDF personnel seek extension of service period

The service period of the VDF was last extended till March 31, 2025.Even after the expiry of the service period, the Home Department has not yet extended it, he said.

For extension of the service period, Deban said that the list of VDF personnel from all districts and all necessary documents were submitted 2 months back.

He said the association members visited the Secretariat to meet the Chief Secretary regarding the matter on March 31 .

However, the CS had gone to the Raj Bhavan at the time and as such, the members were unable to meet and present their case, he said.

To this day, the association members have not been given an appointment for the CS is said to have gone outside the State, he added.

While the VDF has been part of the security structure which has been manning the law and order in the State, if their service period is not extended further, the VDF personnel may not get their due monthly honorarium, he said.

The VDF personnel have been performing duties in par with the police force.

They have been part of the police force which are tasked to secure life and property of the people, villages during the ongoing conflict since May 3, 2023, he said.

The honorarium VDF personnel get is minimal.

If their service period is not extended, the personnel may lose their due honorarium for 2 months.

This would affect them and their families severely, he added.

VDF Employees Welfare Association, Imphal East, president, Sanjit Shagolsem said the honorarium VDFs are given isn't proportionate to the duty they are being given.

A VDF personnel gets an honorarium of only Rs 10,500 a month when 8th Pay Commission is being implemented for other employees of the Government.

Considering the duty they are given, they must be given honorarium in par with that of the police force, he said.