Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Feb 10: Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Nubra Deldan Namgyal in a letter to the Governor NN Vohra acknowledged about the real tragic condition of the local porters at Siachen.
In the letter, MLA stated that the porters of Nubra valley saved the precious life of a jawan but their work was not highlighted by the Indian Government.
He further stated that since the inception of Siachen Glacier in 1984, numbers of local porters of Nobra valley had laid down their lives while defending the motherland at the harsh heights of Glacier. But, even in the service of the nation, the dead bodies of many local porters were still not recovered and are lying buried under the snow since decades, he added. Though many of the officers of Indian Army were rescued by local porters alive at several occasions, but unfortunately their life-saving efforts did not get proper recognition and were only given mere certificate of honour and no recognition at national level at all.
He said that in addition to it, many of the local porters had to get amputated due to their falling in the deep crevasses and to get justice they have to approach the Labour Court for compensation from Government of India, which itself is a big hassle for them.
“Whenever the Prime Minister or the Defense Minister visits Siachen Glacier, our Indian Army hides the porters from them, depriving them from putting their grievances before them”, he added.
On behalf of porters, MLA claimed for equal recognition to all the local porters who have been playing equal effort in general and an extra-ordinary effort in the recent rescue operation in particular at Siachen Glacier.
He requested Governor to kindly ensure that the local porters engaged at the Siachen Glacier must be paid their salary on time and it must be enhanced by double of current salary.
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