Srinagar: Employees of the wildlife department, under the banner of Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Employees and Workers Union on Wednesday, staged a protest demonstration at Partap Park in Srinagar against the government for failing to fulfill their long-pending demands.

The employees termed the recently announced SRO-520 by Jammu and Kashmir Government a “cruel joke”.

“The SRO-520 is a cruel joke which has been played upon the daily wagers and unconfirmed employees. We consider it as an attempt to deceive the employees in the name of regularization. Such orders are unacceptable to us,” president of Jammu and Kashmir Wild Life Employees’ and Workers’ (JKWLEW) Union, Tariq Ahmad Sofi said.

The leaders said that the employees working on consolidated, casual and need basis should be given preference in regularization of their services like the government did in 1994.

“The present government is turning a blind eye to the outcries of the employees working in wildlife department. “We demand hike in salaries for field workers of wildlife department and promotions according to their seniority,” said Manzoor Ahmed Pampoori, senior trade union leader of Employees Joint Consultation Committee.

The employees threatened of a daily sit-in protest if the authorities fail to sort out their problems. The protestors also requested the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Chief Secretary and Commissioner of wildlife to intervene in the matter and fulfil their demands.

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