Thoubal, Jan 21 : Personnel of the Village Defence Force (VDF), Heirok, have extended financial assistance to the bereaved family of late Laishram Budha of Heirok Part-I, Mayai Leikai, who passed away on December 28 last year after a prolonged illness.
Late Laishram Budha, son of Laishram Tampha, formerly served as a VDF personnel. The VDF personnel of Heirok, formerly known as SPO, collectively raised an amount of ₹1,38,500 (Rupees one lakh thirty-eight thousand five hundred) and handed it over to his wife, Laishram Ongbi Suni, on Wednesday.
Taking part in the handing-over event, Khumanthem Gunadhor, Commander of VDF Heirok E-Company, stated that the VDF personnel of Heirok have been extending financial support to the family of any VDF member who passes away, particularly to help in addressing household hardships. He further assured that such assistance would also be extended in future, including support for the education of the deceased personnel’s children, though the help may not be sufficient to fully meet all needs.
Gunadhor also appealed to the Manipur Government, saying that when SPOs or VDF personnel die while serving the state, there is at present no provision for compensation or financial support from the government side. He urged the authorities to consider providing assistance to families of VDF personnel who lose their lives after dedicating themselves to maintaining peace and security.
It may be recalled that the VDF personnel in Heirok were recruited in 2008 by the then Manipur Government following public demands for safeguarding security after a tragic incident in which three adults were killed and a woman was injured in a shooting incident at a playground in Heirok during the Yaosang festival.
The financial assistance programme was attended by Th. Khogen Singh (Commander, VDF A-Company), Kh. Nobin Singh (Commander, B-Company), Kh. Ratan Singh (Commander, C-Company), M. Momocha Singh (Commander, D-Company), N. Ibungo Singh (Commander, F-Company), along with several other VDF personnel.
