Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 18: The casual labourers of the Sindh Forest Division in Ganderbal today slammed the authorities for disengaging them and withholding their salaries for nearly two years.
Numbering 265, the protesting workers said that, as per a new circular, their monthly salary had been revised to Rs 9,330. However, soon after the revision, their salaries were stopped.
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“We have been disengaged completely, and now we are being told that our appointment was unauthorized,” said Javid Ahmad Lone, one of the casual labourers.
“If our appointment is unauthorized, then all the 1,945 workers engaged in the Forest Department across J&K are also unauthorized.”
He said these workers have been serving the department for over two decades and are now staring at an uncertain future, with their families already suffering.
The workers further alleged that the concerned Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of their range had taken money from 65 casual labourers, assuring them that they held permanent government jobs, with their names figuring in the list sent to higher authorities.
“He took money from the workers-amounting to Rs 65 lakh. Those who paid sold everything they owned. Those who couldn’t pay were left out,” the workers alleged.
It is worth noting that these workers have been protesting for nearly a year, running from pillar to post in an effort to have their issues resolved. They said they even met the Chief Minister to seek a resolution, but to no avail.
“We want justice. We are facing hardships. Due to non payment of fees, our children have been thrown out of school. If we have been disengaged, how are those 65 workers more rightful than us?” they asked.
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