IIOJK’s Forest Workers Rise Up Against Years of Neglect

IIOJK’s forest employees are fighting back against neglect and injustice, demanding their overdue promotions and rightful wages after years of exploitation.

Forest Department employees in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have finally had enough. Frustrated by the persistent mistreatment by authorities, they staged protests across Jammu and other divisional headquarters. Their grievances are loud and clear: a lack of promotion, unfair treatment, and unsafe working conditions.

The protests, organized by the All Jammu and Kashmir Non-Gazetted Forest Employees Association (NGFOA), saw a large turnout of workers voicing their anger. They criticized the authorities for the ongoing delays in conducting Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meetings, which has resulted in stagnation across various ranks. This prolonged delay has denied workers the promotions they rightfully deserve.

For years, employees have been forced to work without the recognition and compensation they are due. Despite facing harsh conditions, working around the clock in all weather, they have not been paid fairly for their services. The lack of basic salary and promotions has led to immense dissatisfaction among the staff, who feel ignored by the authorities.

The protest highlighted the suffering of the forest front-line workers who are exposed to extreme conditions daily. Rajinder Singh Parihar, president of the All Jammu and Kashmir NGFOA, expressed the deep frustration felt by workers. He and other leaders like Gurcharan Singh, Provincial President Jammu, and Ghulam Nabi War, General Secretary, underscored the failure of the government to address these issues.

They called out the authorities for their rigid, non-serious attitude toward workers’ welfare. The authorities have dragged their feet on resolving these matters for too long, leaving employees no choice but to take to the streets in demand of their basic rights.

These employees are not asking for special treatment—they simply want what they are owed. Their plea for fair treatment and due promotions is not too much to ask. The lack of action has created a situation where hard-working individuals are left without pay or recognition, despite their tireless efforts in the harshest of conditions.

The workers of IIOJK’s Forest Department have made it clear that they will no longer remain silent. They demand that the authorities address their concerns immediately. Failure to act will only lead to further unrest and dissatisfaction.