Raja Syed Rather
Ganderbal, Jul 11: Scores of casual laborers from the Sindh Forest Division in Ganderbal staged a protest demonstration outside the Divisional Forest Officer’s (DFO) office, demanding job regularization and the immediate release of their long-pending salaries. They have been protesting for the last 19 days.
The forest employees expressed their frustration for “being deprived” of their wages for an extended period. They raised their voices in unison, chanting slogans and appealing for urgent action to address their grievances.
“We have been enduring financial hardships without receiving our pending salaries,” said one of the protesters, adding, “Our employment status remains uncertain as our jobs are yet to be regularized.”
They made a fervent appeal to the government to take immediate steps towards their regularization and the prompt release of their long-overdue salaries.
The protesters expressed disappointment that no official from any department extended support to them or visited the protest site. “When we approached the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), he categorically refused to engage in dialogue with us,” they said.
Another casual labourer while sharing his plight said, “We have been protesting continuously for the past 19 days, including on Eid days. If we were consistently paid for the last seven years, why is the department neglecting us now? Some of our fellow workers are even homeless, while others are residing in rented accommodations.”
We have dedicated a significant portion of our lives to the forest department, they said and appealed to the higher authorities to address their concerns. They expressed hope that their matter would be given the utmost priority.
