Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 17: Casual labourers working with the Forest Department today held a protest in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, demanding the release of wages withheld for nearly three years.
Dozens of workers from the Forest Division Ganderbal gathered to voice their concerns, raising slogans and holding placards reading “We want justice” and “Release our salaries”.
One protester, Javeed Ahmad, said many labourers had been working with the department for decades. “We have been working in the Forest Department for the past 25 years, but our salaries have been withheld for over two-and-a-half years. We have also been removed from the duty roster,” he said.
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Another protester said the issue began after a verification process. “Following verification, some workers were removed from service. We were paid from 2017 to 2023, but after that our wages were stopped,” he said.
The workers claimed that while labourers in other forest divisions across Jammu and Kashmir continue to receive salaries, only their division has faced a suspension of wages.
They appealed to Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and senior forest officials, including the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, to intervene. The protesters said that if any appointments are found to be irregular, action should be taken against those responsible rather than withholding wages of the entire workforce.
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