Mokokchung, 3 August (MTNews): The Pathso Range Students’ Union (PRSU) urged the Nagaland state government to prioritize and address the demands of the Nagaland Village Guards Association (NVGA) and expressed their solidarity with their ‘genuine demand’.
The Nagaland Village Guards Association has been demanding for the enhancement of their salary for which the PRSU strongly urged the Expert Committee of the state government to recommend the same to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) from their end.
“The Village Guards (VGs) are actively doing their duties in the villages, almost like the roles of police in urban areas and hence they should be paid reasonably,” the PRSU stated.
According to PRSU, the Nagaland Village Guards are ‘unique’ and are a ‘locally specific law enforcement force’ which remain ‘very much relevant in the interiors of the state’. The union also said that at the village level, they play a crucial role in maintaining law and order, curbing illegal activities, and quick responses during natural disasters or emergencies.
“The Village Guards (VG) are doing round the clock duty, 24×7 on rotation basis at their barracks and patrol the village, to ensure safety and security,” the union said and added that they also act as the first line of defense against any potential threats in the village and curb criminal activities.
“The Village Guards also collaborate with the security forces and provide assistance in various law enforcement operations and investigations. One such example is, curbing the menace of illegal drugs smuggling where the Village Guards intercept the smugglers and hand them over to the police,” the PRSU added.
The PRSU, after considering the critical roles the VGs perform, said it is only ‘fair and just’ that their dedication be recognized through reasonable enhancement of salary which will also ensure their continued motivation and commitment to serving the people of Nagaland.