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VDC Secys withdraw agitation after govt assures to form local bodies

After the government assured to form local bodies by appointing people’s representatives within two weeks, the Village Development Committee (VDC) Secretaries have decided to withdraw their 10-day-old strike and have agreed to return back to their work.

The three-day-long talks between the Local Development Ministry and VDC Secretaries Rights Protection Centre ended on Thursday after the two sides reached 9-point agreement. Minister for Local Development Dev Gurung informed the agitating VDC secretaries that the cabinet has agreed, on principle, to restore the local bodies. He said the meeting of eight parties will formalise this decision.

“If the local bodies are not formed within two weeks, we will re-launch our agitation,” said Bhawani Prasad Ghimire, president of the Centre.

The VDC secretaries launched their agitation primarily demanding security after a VDC secretary Ramhari Pokharel was killed in Terai last month. The government has agreed to step up security for the VDC secretaries and have also agreed with their demand to let them work from outside their village station in case security situation is unsatisfactory.

The government has also agreed to bear expenses for treatment if any VDC secretary is injured in attack by different groups. If a VDC secretary is killed, he/she will be declared a martyr, the government has agreed. The Ministry also agreed, in principle, to their demands for Rs 1 million worth life insurance to all VDC secretaries. nepalnews.com sd Aug 03 07