Village Defence Committees [UPSC Notes]

Jammu & Kashmir LG Shri Manoj Sinha had promised to strengthen VDCs (Village Defence Committees) after the terrorist attack in Dangri village, Rajouri District in January 2023,  in which seven civilians lost their lives. VDCs have been rechristened as VDGs (Village Defence Guards). In this article, you will learn more about Village Defence Committees and their revival, an important topic for the IAS exam.

Village Defence Committees (VDCs)

The Village Defence Committees (VDCs) were formed in Jammu during 1994-95 when the militancy was at its peak. 

• The militancy that began in Kashmir in the early 1990s had spread to the Doda district (now Kishtwar, Doda & Ramban Districts of Jammu Division) by the mid-1990s. As the killings increased, prompting the migration of Hindus from villages to nearby towns, the Home Ministry, in 1995, decided to set up the VDCs.
• VDCs played a crucial role in containing militancy in Jammu Division. VDCs were trained to hold the front against militants till the arrival of security forces, thus proving to be force multipliers.
• Each VDC comprised 10 members including 3 SPOs (Special Police Officers) and they were provided training and .303 rifles.
• About 4,000 VDCs existed in J&K. 
• After the improvement in the ground situation, VDCs became defunct and some SPOs who were part of these communities were recruited into the police.

Revival of VDCs

Amid efforts by militant groups to spread their influence and activities in the Jammu region, the central government has revived the Village Defence Committees (VDCs) in all 10 districts of the province and rechristened them Village Defence Groups (VDGs) and the members shall be designated as Village Defence Guards (VDGs).

• The new scheme to set up VDGs (Village Defence Guards) in vulnerable areas of J&K was approved by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in March 2022.
• The persons leading the VDGs will be paid Rs 4500 per month while the members of the VDGs will be paid a monthly remuneration of Rs 4,000.
• VDGs will be trained in the use of automatic weapons by police and security forces.  

Village Defence Guard Scheme (VDGS)

The aim of the Village Defence Guards Scheme (VDGS) is to organize a small group of volunteer armed civilians in the identified villages along the borders as well as in-depth areas of the Jammu division, with a view to instil a sense of self-protection and ensure the safety and security of such villages, infrastructural installations in and around them and to check the trans-border movement. 

• A group of armed civilians belonging to the “more vulnerable areas”, not more than 15 in number in each group, who would be designated as “Village Defence Guards” (VDGs) would be formed.
• The Village Defence Guards would be in charge of patrolling during the day and the night and securing village infrastructure and communal buildings.
• The Village Defence Guard Scheme came into effect on August 15, 2022.
• VDGs will be split into two groups: those who have a valid license to possess weapons and who have weapons provided by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, and those who have a license, weapons, or are willing to purchase weapons.
• Village Defence Guards Scheme intends to inculcate an attitude of self-protection in security matters amongst the local population and also to supplement the ongoing efforts of the security forces in dealing with acts of subversion and trans-border movement.

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