Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 26 2009:
Some of the Village Defence Force (VDF) personnel of Imphal West district, who were provided training at Manipur Police School, Pangei have deserted the training school for not getting their due monthly salary and complaining of being underfed.
Interacting with Hueiyen Lanpao, the VDF personnel of Imphal West district who have undergone training at MPS, Pangei said that their period of training will end on May 27 and all the foot drill items have exhausted.
They said they were trained to handle only .303 rifle, .32rifle and SLR during the training and they were told that it was the end of their training.
The trainees complaint that they were not paid since March.
They said that they got only Rs 2300 each after deducting the ration money while adding that the mess provided to them was not hygienic and below ordinary.
The personnel said that they were served fried fish once in March, once in April and they were not served fried fish in May.
Among the 500 personnel who were trained, some of them have deserted the school and now only 450 personnel have been there at the MPS.
The remaining personnel have been divided into four companies.
A company consists of 130/140 personnel.
They have been served with a little rice and watery curry of dal.
Since they were paid in March, the personnel can arrange for themselves in case they were not well fed.
But now they didn't get the opportunity to arrange personal mess as they have been not getting their salary.
As they were underfed, there have been instances of some of the personnel collapsing while doing parade and being admitted to the MPS Unit Hospital.
As such some had deserted the school after informing the company commander and the training instructors.
They said they were provided cap, shoes, and socks while they have personally tailored their pants.
They acquired the mosquito nets at their own and those who didn't bring their mosquito net sleep without it.
The personnel were also assigned duty during the 15th Lok Sabha elections in the state.
Those who went to far off places in the outer constituency were given Rs 555 each as TA while they get Rs 200 each in inner.
But on counting day, they were given only a paltry sum of Rs 19 for two square meals.
They said that the SPO/VDF personnel of Thoubal district were given their monthly pay not later than 3rd day of every month while the Imphal West VDF were not paid at all.
The recruitment of VDF personnel was held by the Manipur Police during last week of February.