Context: 

The rise in terror-related strikes in the Jammu division, especially in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch has led to demands to revive Village Defence Committees. 

Village Defence Committees:

• The recent terror incidents in the Jammu division have led to the revival of the Village Defence Committees (VDC), now called Village Defence Guards (VDG). 
• The VDCs were set up in the mid-1990s and played a crucial role in containing militancy in the region. 
• However, there have been instances of cadre abuse and human rights violations, leading to the need for a better control mechanism. 
• The state policy must aim to mitigate these negatives through proper human resource management and a close supervision of execution. 

Empowering Local Institutions:

• Empowering local bodies, such as panchayats, can help resolve conflicts in Jammu and Kashmir. 
• The J&K Panchayati Raj Act of 1989 was amended in 2020 to establish the District Development Council, completing the three-tier local governance structure. 
• Panchayats are best suited to understand local dynamics in a conflict zone and could assist the local police to expand the stakeholdership of the local population in security matters. 
• Entrusting panchayats with these tasks can also provide a quality check on the character of VDG cadres and monitor their activities.

Conclusion:

• Reviving the Village Defense Guard (VDG) in Jammu and Kashmir should focus on empowering local bodies, like panchayats, to manage the VDGs in a participatory manner. 
• This would expand the stakeholdership of the local population in security matters, improve the quality of VDG cadres, and provide oversight and deterrence

News Source: The Hindu

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