The All Manipur Village Defence Force Welfare Association has suspended their 44-day-long ‘pen down-arms down strike’ and agreed to resume their duties from Saturday.
The association took the decision following the chief minister's assurance during a meeting with the VDF personnel on August 27 that their demands will be fulfilled after the COVID-19 pandemic. A release stated that the chief minister also assured of meeting the DGP and ADGP of the state to discuss other welfare measures which can be taken up for the VDF personnel.
During the meeting, it was also agreed that the chief minister will instruct the superintendent of police of all districts concerned to strike off/ cancel the absentee records of VDF personnel during their agitation, the release stated.
The association also appealed to all the members to undergo COVID-19 tests before resuming their duties. The association also expressed gratitude to all individuals and organisations which supported the demands of the VDF personnel.
The VDF welfare association has been demanding the government to provide grant of arms allowances, grant of 13months’ pay and regularisation of their services. A memorandum has also been submitted by pressing those demands to chief minister N Biren on July 7 and a deadline was served to respond by July 15. They began their cease work strike on July 16 after the state government allegedly failed to respond to their demands.
