Srinagar, Jan 29: Casual labourers employed by the Wildlife Department of Kashmir staged a protest here in Srinagar, urging the government to disburse their wages on a monthly basis.
Bilal Ahmad Dar, a casual labourer from the Wildlife Department, said that they have been working in this capacity for the past 15 years.
“We are not here to request the government to regularize our positions within the department. Our demand is simply for the government to provide us with monthly wages, similar to what other casual labourers and daily wage workers receive in various departments across Jammu and Kashmir,” Dar explained.
He said that the wildlife department is the only department in Kashmir valley where casual labourers and daily wage workers are compensated inadequately, receiving minimal wages only during religious festivals. “Due to the lack of consistent income, many families are experiencing financial hardships, making it difficult to pay for their children’s school fees,”he said.
“We have also met with Dr. Farooq Abdullah, who assured us that a delegation would meet with the Forest Minister of Jammu and Kashmir to present our demands. If our requests are not met by the government, we will return to protest until our issues are addressed,” Dar added.
