Imphal, October 05, 2009: Having no clear-cut decision on nomenclature whether it should be named Special Police Officers (SPOs) or Village Defence Force (VDF), the state government is yet to avail of the reimbursement funds from the Centre, an official source disclosed.

For the SPOs, the appointing authority is the Deputy Commissioner/District Magistrate, while engagements of Village Defence Force are executed by the Police Department.

Under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), security related expenditure reimbursement is allowable for Village Defence Committee/Force subject to approval of MHA on the quantum to be deployed in each state.

A decision needs to be taken whether the nomenclature should be SPO or VDF, the official said stating that the expenditure incurred in the appointment is a sizeable one which would get its impact on the state financial condition.

The state government also needs to pursue the MHA more vigorously for reimbursement, the source further observed.

Manipur government is paying the SPOs honorarium at the rate of Rs 3000 per head per month, and ration money at the rate of Rs 570 per head per month.

The state government, mention may be made, in February this year had also requested the MHA to increase the honorarium to Rs 5000 per month.

Response of the MHA is awaited.

Not adequate with the number of policemen recruited during.

The last five years, the state government had recruited.

1350 Special Police Officers (SPOs) for making up the shortage of manpower at 45 police Stations across the insurgency-ridden four valley districts.

Besides the 1350 SPOs, the state police department is under process for recruitment of 3100 more SPOs or VDF as the state cabinet had decided to extend the people's "militia to all police stations across the state.

In the meantime, the government has also extended the period of engagement of the service of 300 SPOs for Heirok of Thoubal district, the first batch of the people's militia for another year with effect from July 2009.The proposal of Home Department with financial implication of Rs 1,28,52,000 has been approved by the cabinet meeting held on September 24 last, said the official source.

Defying insurgents threats, villagers of Heirok in Thoubal District, went ahead with the Special Police Officers (SPO's) two years back in June 2007 following the killing of three village youths in indiscriminate firing by armed insurgents during Yaoshang (holi festival) in March of the same year.

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