The Union Home Ministry has given its nod to the Jammu Kashmir administration to form village defence groups (VDGs) in the region. The VDGs were earlier known as village defence committees (VDCs).
In its letter titled ‘Revised Scheme of Village Defence Groups (VDGs) in J&K’, the MHA said that in areas that are more vulnerable, people leading the village defence groups will be paid Rs 4,500 per month each while other volunteers will receive Rs 4,000 per month each.
The VDGs, as per the new order, will function under the direction of the SP/SSP of the concerned district. The VDGs were earlier known as village defence committees (VDCs).
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir BJP said the revival of village defence committees (VDCs) as village defence groups (VDGs) will not only ensure their financial empowerment but would also boost the security grid in Jammu Kashmir.
Village Defence Committees (VDCs) were the first set up in the 1990s in the Chenab Valley area of Jammu Kashmir for the “self-defence of Hindus” in remote hilly villages.
As recently as 2019, the Jammu Kashmir police set up new VDCs in Kishtwar. The district alone has over 3,251 VDC members out of which 800 are armed.
In Jammu Kashmir, there were 4,125 VDCs as of December 2019, as per reports.
The Indian Army conducts training camps for VDCs consisting of weapons training and intelligence gathering basics.
The first VDC was set up under Shesh Paul Vaid when he was a Superintendent of police in Bagankote village, Udhampur (now Reasi) in 1995.