HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Aug 22: The Assam government has decided to strengthen Village Defence Parties (VDPs) across the state.
Answering a question raised by Digboi BJP MLA Suren Phukan during the question hour in the Assam Assembly on Thursday, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the VDPs will be assigned an additional responsibility to oversee embankments in their respective villages.
“The government will start providing kits such as whistles, lathis, and torches to VDPs, which were discontinued in 2018,” he said.
Funds for the repair of embankments will be allocated to the VDPs starting next financial year, Sarma added.
The state government also unveiled a series of upcoming decisions in the Assembly on Thursday. In response to a query, the CM stated that tea garden workers currently residing in garden areas will be given ownership of the respective lands. 100 high schools and 20 colleges will also be set up in the tea garden areas, the CM said.