Dang VDC secretaries resign

DANG, July 5: Following the wave of resignations, 39 VDC secretaries in Dang resigned in group on Monday citing security threats.



Regular business in the VDCs have been seriously affected following the resignations. Local level development projects too are in a limbo. [break]



The VDC secretaries, who submitted their resignation letter to the Local Development Officer Surya Kanta Jha, said they were compelled to resign following daily threats by various armed outfits operating in the Tarai.



"To block people´s need and affect the development related activities was not our objective," said Geha Raj Paudel, VDC Secretary Welfare Protection Forum, adding, "We can not work if government does not ensure our safety."



According to Geha Raj Paudel of VDC Secretaries Welfare Protection Forum, various armed outfits have been demanding donations from VDC secretaries and the groups threaten them with consequences including death if the demands are not fulfilled.



He said they are not able to hold talks with such groups as they are underground armed outfits. LDO Jha had requested the secretaries to continue with their jobs at least till mid-July.



"Development activities could be severely affected if VDC secretaries resign en masse at the end of the fiscal year," Jha said, adding, "Also the regular activities of District Development Committee would be seriously affected."

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