Nagaland village guards likely to resume stir after Indian Independence Day celebration

Expressing resentment over the government’s failure to enhance their salary and duty allowances, the Village Guards Association of Nagaland (VGAN) is mulling to take up further course of action after the Independence Day celebration.

KOHIMA—  Expressing resentment over the government’s failure to enhance their salary and duty allowances, the Village Guards Association of Nagaland (VGAN) is mulling to take up further course of action after the Independence Day celebration.

Kurithi Jorror, president of VGAN, told Eastern Mirror that after the Independence Day celebration, the village guards will be meeting in the state capital to deliberate on next course of action, to press their demand.

Jorror said the proposed meeting is being called as the expert committee set up to look into the association’s grievances had failed to submit the required documents -- VGAN’s demand for salary/honorarium enhancement, wage increment and allowance -- to the court by August 4.

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He pointed out that though the court had instructed the expert committee to address the concerns of the village guards, the panel failed to file the recommended affidavit.

Headquartered in Tuensang district, there are 9583 village guards across 318 villages in eastern Nagaland districts and Phek district, disclosed Jorror.

He reminded that earlier the association had planned to go for an agitation on July 27 and 28, but was postponed as per the request of the Minister of Village Guards and other officials.

A meeting took place on July 25 to discuss wage and daily allowance enhancement; however, no fruitful outcome emerged despite assurances, it was informed.

Since 2019, the village guards have been receiving a monthly salary of INR 3000. Referring to a Supreme Court directive, Jorror maintained that personnel of any volunteer force should receive a minimum daily allowance of INR 520, equivalent to police personnel.

However, they receive only INR 25 per day (RA) which, he said, was insufficient. “INR 25 is hardly worth a water bottle,” he added. Jorror also disclosed that during Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations, the village guards participate by reaching out to various police outposts, bearing their own transportation expenses.