SRINAGAR: Jammu & Kashmir’s forest guards and foresters, the first line of defence of our forests and wildlife, have appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Forest Minister Javed Rana for urgent intervention against long-pending injustice in pay and service benefits.
“Despite performing 24×7 high-risk, technical and law-enforcement duties—including night patrols, fire-fighting, anti-smuggling operations and protection of vast forest areas—the frontline staff continue to remain stuck at Pay Level-2, while their counterparts like Patwaris, Junior Assistants and VLWs have already been upgraded to Pay Level-4,” the forest guards said in a statement issued here.
Forest guards said they enforce major environmental laws, work in remote and hostile terrains, face wild animal attacks, timber mafias, forest fires and extreme weather, yet receive no risk allowance and no compensation for continuous duty, even on Sundays and holidays.
“More than 130 forest personnel have laid down their lives in the line of duty, earning the title of Forest Martyrs. Still, their service remains undervalued and underpaid,” they said.
The key demands include:
- Pay Level-4 for Forest Guards and corresponding upgrade for Foresters
- 2½ days additional salary for round-the-clock duty
- Risk allowance for life-threatening field conditions
- Ration Allowance
- Uniform Allowance
- Recognition as technical staff based on actual duties.