Indian Army Strengthens Grassroots Security in Doda Through Village Defence Guard Training

The Indian Army has undertaken a significant initiative to strengthen grassroots security in Jammu and Kashmir’s Chenab Valley by training Village Defence Guards (VDGs) in Doda district. Around 150 local volunteers, including women, drawn from 17 remote villages along the Doda–Chamba border are being trained to protect their communities in a region marked by difficult terrain and persistent security challenges. The programme reflects a growing emphasis on community participation in maintaining peace and countering threats in sensitive border areas.

VDG training by Indian Army in Doda, image via Deccan Chronicle | OpIndia

Comprehensive Training in Challenging Terrain

The training programme is being conducted at Shingini Panchayat in the Bhalessa area, located nearly 90 kilometres from Doda headquarters. Under the supervision of the Indian Army, volunteers are being familiarised with modern weapons, including automatic and self-loading rifles, replacing older and less effective arms. Alongside weapon handling, trainees are being taught basic combat techniques suited to forested and mountainous landscapes, enabling them to respond effectively during emergencies.

Special focus is also being placed on self-defence skills and bunker construction to ensure villagers are better prepared to protect themselves and their homes during hostile situations. The training is designed to create a reliable first line of defence, particularly in areas where immediate access to security forces may be difficult due to geography and weather conditions.

Women’s Participation Marks a Shift in Community Defence

One of the notable aspects of the initiative is the active participation of women volunteers. Their inclusion signals a shift toward a more inclusive and community-driven approach to security. Women trainees have expressed that the programme has increased their confidence and sense of responsibility toward safeguarding their villages. Officials believe that involving women strengthens social cohesion and ensures wider vigilance at the village level.

Security Context: Ongoing Counter-Terror Operations

The training comes at a time when security forces are conducting sustained counter-terror operations in the upper reaches of Doda, Kishtwar, and surrounding areas. Dense forests and rugged hills in the Chenab Valley have witnessed suspected militant movement in recent years, prompting intensified surveillance and search operations by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and paramilitary forces. Strengthening VDG units is seen as a crucial support mechanism that complements these operations by improving local awareness and early response capabilities.

Building Community Resilience and Cooperation

Officials have described the VDG training as part of a broader strategy to foster long-term stability through community resilience. By equipping villagers with defensive skills and modern equipment, authorities aim to reduce vulnerability, deter hostile elements, and enhance coordination between civilians and security forces. Many volunteers have welcomed the initiative, noting that it gives them a greater sense of preparedness and ownership over their own security.

The MGMM Outlook

The Indian Army’s initiative to train Village Defence Guards in Doda highlights a grounded and strategic approach to security in Jammu and Kashmir’s most vulnerable border regions. By preparing around 150 local volunteers—including women—from remote villages along the Doda–Chamba border, the Army is reinforcing grassroots defence in an area shaped by harsh terrain, limited connectivity, and recurring security threats. Training in modern weapons, terrain-specific combat techniques, and emergency preparedness reflects a recognition that local communities are often the first responders in crisis situations, especially where access to security forces can be delayed.

The inclusion of women in this programme marks a significant shift toward inclusive community security, strengthening vigilance and social cohesion at the village level. This effort aligns closely with ongoing counter-terror operations in the Chenab Valley, where dense forests and rugged hills have enabled militant movement in recent years. By equipping villagers with skills, confidence, and coordination mechanisms, the initiative reduces civilian vulnerability while enhancing cooperation between locals and security forces. Such community-based defence frameworks not only support immediate security objectives but also contribute to long-term stability by fostering preparedness, trust, and shared responsibility in sensitive border areas.

(Sources: OpIndia, Moneycontrol, The Economic Times)