The Central Committee of the All Manipur VDF Employees’ Welfare Association today announced that VDF personnel across the state will continue their indefinite ‘Pen Down, Gun Down’ strike and warned that the agitation will be intensified from the third day if the government fails to meet their long-standing demands.
Speaking to media persons at the Manipur Press Club this afternoon, Sagolsem Sanjit Singh, President of the Association, said that around 10,050 VDF personnel are currently serving with an honorarium of only Rs10,500, despite being deployed in red zone areas and assisting police with equal physical duties, especially during the ongoing crisis.
“With the current honorarium, VDF personnel are unable to feed their families, even while risking their lives,” he said.
The Association President mentioned that their matter has been discussed during the Governor’s Council meeting, and they have also heard about the extension of their service. However, no written order confirming the extension has been issued yet.
Sanjit further stated that the Association is demanding the implementation of Section 18 of the Police Act, 1861, in accordance with the VDF recruitment rules; an increase in pay for VDF personnel; and an official extension of their service, which expired on March 31, 2025.
“We demand that our monthly honorarium be increased to Rs.30,000,” he said. He added that if Section 18 of the Police Act, 1861 is implemented as per recruitment rules, they are ready to serve wherever they are deployed across the country.
The Association also mentioned that although they are open to negotiations, no formal invitation has been received from the government so far.
“We may intensify our agitation if our demands are not discussed by tomorrow,” Sanjit warned, adding that while they are not in a hurry to implement their demands, they expect a concrete assurance within a reasonable timeframe.