GUWAHATI, Jan 30 � Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi yesterday announced a number of special schemes for the benefit of the village defence personnel. The Chief Minister was addressing the State convention of the State Village Defence Organisation (VDO) at the Sarusajai Indoor Stadium here.
Describing the organisation as a unique one in the whole of the country, the Chief Minister also announced that plans are afoot to entrust Deputy Inspector General of Police with the job to run the VDO on a full-time basis.
According to an official press release, the Chief Minister said that the State Government would provide a mobile phone to each unit of the Village Defence Organisation to help them perform smoothly. Moreover, the Chief Minister said, the Government is considering a provision for supplying rain coats and bicycles to the members of the organisation.
Each of the registered Village Defence Parties (VDPs) would be provided with an amount of Rs 500 and the VDP members would be extended insurance facilities. The Government would also take up another scheme for forming self-help groups (SHGs) among the VDP members so as to provide them loans at low rate of interest for purchasing tractors, developing fisheries and other income generating activities, said the Chief Minister.
The Government is also planning to raise women wing of the VDP to prevent crimes against women and those having VDP experience certificates would be granted an additional five mark if they appear in the recruitment tests held for appointment in the police force or in other jobs, he said.
In each of the villages, a band party of the VDP would be formed and sports meets among the VDP members would also be held. Besides, steps would be taken to register the unregistered VDP units and to extend assistance to them, said the Chief Minister.
Presenting assistance of Rs 1 lakh to the next of kin of the each of the three VDP members who lost their lives in incidents of terrorist violence, the Chief Minister recalled with gratitude the contributions made by the VDP personnel in restoring peace by containing terrorism. He also remembered founder of the VDO Harinarayan Barua.
The Chief Minister released a souvenir and took the salute of the VDO band party and also visited the handicraft exhibition held by the Fourth Assam Police Battalion.
The VDO function was also addressed by State�s Director General of Police Sankar Barua, and Chief Controller of the VDO Ramanidhar Barua, among others. The Chief Controller said that the assistance to the next of kin of each of the VDP personnel killed by the terrorists would be raised to Rs 3 lakh.