Govt launches Village Defence Guards scheme to fight terrorism in Jammu

Tags: State News

The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has approved the formulation of the Village Defense Guard Scheme (VDGS)-2022 "to prevent incidents of terrorist acts inspired and supported from across the border and to boost the security grid in the Union Territory".

Important facts

• The scheme has become effective from August 15, 2022 and will have a potentially positive impact.

• The objective of this scheme is to organise a small group of volunteer armed citizens in the border villages to inculcate a sense of self-defence for the security of the villages.

• A maximum of 15 persons in each group will be designated as "Village Defence Guards" (VDGs).

• Each group will be known as a "village defence group" and will be headed by a retired officer from the Army, CPMF, or the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Jammu and Kashmir

• Jammu and Kashmir was a state of India till 5 August 2019 which was bifurcated in August 2019 to form two union territories namely Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

• Capital- Srinagar (May-October), Jammu (November-April)

• Lieutenant Governor - Manoj Sinha

• Legislative Council - 36 seats

• Assembly - 89 seats