Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 4: Aimed at acknowledging the contribution of Village Defense Groups (VDGs) to local security and addressing their long-pending concerns, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held a crucial meeting here today.
Sat Sharma, president, J&K BJP, Sunil Sharma, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in J&K Assembly and general secretary, J&K BJP and Rakesh Mahajan, BJP all cells incharge addressed the meeting, which was attended by more than 300 VDGs.
The delegation was led by Basant Raj Thakur, BJP VDG cell convenor.
During the meeting, the VDG representatives presented a detailed memorandum highlighting the critical issues faced by the VDG personnel.
They stressed that the VDGs, who have played a vital role in maintaining grassroots security in border and remote areas, must be duly recognized, supported and equipped.
They demanded that all unpaid volunteers be brought under the Union Home Ministry’s 2022 policy for VDGs, which ensures honorarium and support.
The VDGs strongly urged that automatic weapons be provided to all VDGs and outdated weapons must be replaced with modern arms for effective functioning.
They requested that personnel be permitted to serve within their native villages, allowing them to protect their own people, which was the core vision behind the formation of VDGs.
Furthermore, the VDGs demanded that they be covered under insurance policies akin to Police Constables, brought under the EPF scheme and be given retirement and pension benefits.
They also called for a substantial increase in their monthly remuneration from the existing Rs 4,000 to Rs 12,000.
Addressing the gathering, Sat Sharma hailed the VDGs and termed them as the first line of defense in sensitive areas and assured them that the party would strongly take up their demands with the concerned authorities.
Sunil Sharma echoed strong sentiments for the VDGs and said that they are not just volunteers, they are frontline warriors.
Among others who attended the meeting included Ramesh Katoch, Suresh Sharma, Rajesh Sharma, Harinder Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Surjeet Singh, Uttam Chand, Raj Kumar Ashok Singh, Pawan Kumar, Kirpal Singh, Girdhari Singh, Vijay Kumar and Kuldeep Singh.
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