Village Defence Committees

Village Defence Committees

News: Lieutenant Governor of the Jammu and Kashmir declared to revive Village Defence Committees (VDC) amid recent militant attacks. 

What are VDC?
•    The VDC were set up in the mid - 1990s as a force multiplier against militant attacks.
• Its aim was to provide residents of remote hilly villages with weapons and give them arms training to defend themselves.
• During the peak of militancy in most parts of Jammu division, the VDCs played a significant role in combating militancy.
• They were the most-feared armed groups among militants in areas where poor road networks delayed the arrival of security forces. The villagers, well-versed with the local topography, averted many militant attacks and helped in their capture and killings.

Recent developments:
• The VDCs have now been renamed as Village Defence Guards (VDG). The new scheme to set up VDGs in vulnerable areas of J&K was approved by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in March 2022.
• The VDGs will function under the direction of the Senior superintendent of police (SSP)/superintendent of police (SP) of the district concerned.