CM Himanta attends 73rd foundation day of Village Defence Organisation

DERGAON: Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma appealed to the Village Defence Party members to selflessly dedicate themselves to transform Village Defence Organisation (VDO) into an ideal social organisation that will be responsive to all the problems of the people living in rural areas.

Attending the 73rd foundation day of Village Defence Organisation at Police Training College in Dergaon on Saturday, Chief Minister Dr Sarma paid his rich tributes to the founder of VDO Late Harinarayan Baruah and urged upon the members to re-dedicate themselves more to the cause of the people living in the rural areas. Expressing his happiness to have been in a position to attend the foundation day programme, Chief Minister Dr Sarma said, "Everybody needs concerted efforts to make VDO a huge platform which will be responsive to all the problems of the people living in the village areas." In the changing dynamics of society, crime and its manifestation, the VDP needs to reorient itself. He, therefore, said that the Assam VDO Act, 1966 will be amended and an amended Act will be brought in, in the Monsoon Session of Assam Legislative Assembly to make VDP more professional in the changing times. He also solicited suggestions from all stake holders in this regard. He also said that since VDO is a voluntary organization, efforts should be made for the VDPs to work on those factors which essentially trigger violence or law and order problems.

The Chief Minister also urged the VDPs to co-operate with the police administration in keeping the law and order situations normal and join hands to eliminate the menace like witch hunting, theft in religious places etc. Though at present there are 22, 881 registered VDPs which have been functioning well throughout the State, Dr Sarma advocated for creating VDP against each polling booth in the state.

Synchronising with the occasion, Chief Minister also released a souvenir and gave away awards to 35 village defence parties and 25 circle organisers. Earlier, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma inspected the under construction project of upgrading of existing Police Training College to a world class Academy at Dergaon. With project cost of Rs 156,51 crore, the project is being implemented by the Assam Police Housing Corporation Limited. Chief Minister directed the executing agency to complete the project as per specification maintaining quality in all aspects.

IGP (Administration) Nitul Gogoi gave the welcome address in the programme which was also attended among others by Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, MP Kamakhya Prashad Tasa, DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, Commissioner & Secretary, Home, MS Maniwannan, Chief Advisor VDO Ranjit Mazumdar and a host of others. Later, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma visited the residence of late Animesh Bhuyan, an AASU leader at Khakandaguri village under Dergaon PS who was killed by a mob at Jorhat town on November, 29, 2021. He interacted with his parents and offered his deep condolences and paid floral tributes at the portrait of Late Animesh. Jorhat Police has already produced a charge sheet against the culprits involved in the crime and steps will be taken to try the case through fast track court, the Chief Minister added. As a small token of the State government, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma also handed over a cheque worth Rs. 5 lakh to the bereaved parents, stated a press release.

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