Karnataka forest department outsourced employees working in wildlife, social forestry and regional forest divisions have announced a protest in Bengaluru from October 27, citing delayed implementation of promised measures, wage-related grievances and the absence of service security.
The Karnataka State Forest Department Wildlife Units Daily-Wage Outsourced Employees’ Association said it would first organise an “Aranya Bhavan Chalo” protest and then continue the agitation at Freedom Park. Association president A.M. Nagaraju and vice-president S.S. Harish said employees had already held three strikes, but claimed that their demands had not been implemented despite assurances from Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre.
According to the report published by Prajavani, the employees had also submitted a representation to Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy during his visit to Madikeri last month. They said that direct payment of wages by the forest department would help workers receive their entitled remuneration, arguing that the existing outsourcing arrangement had prevented them from receiving their full wages.
The employees have alleged that they are paid for only 24 days even when they work throughout the month. They also said they work beyond the stipulated eight-hour duty period and, in wildlife units, remain available for duties extending across the day and night. The workers claimed they continue to protect forests and wildlife in rain, heat and difficult working conditions, often without adequate basic facilities.
The association has demanded that the outsourcing system introduced by the department in 2017–18 be withdrawn and that the department resume direct wage payments. It has also sought service security for workers who have completed 10 years, equal pay for equal work, and wage fixation based on seniority and length of service.
For employees in wildlife units, the association has demanded overtime wages under labour laws, a shift system and payment for all 30 days of the month. It has also sought hardship allowance for drivers, saying that although the allowance had been announced, it was not being paid. The employees have asked the government to issue the necessary order instead of citing the need for additional funds.
Other demands include action over alleged irregularities in Employees’ State Insurance and provident fund payments. The association has sought information on insurance contributions deposited into contract workers’ accounts, along with identity cards, ESI cards and salary slips. It has also demanded that the department maintain formal service records for the employees.
The association said workers from wildlife, social forestry and regional divisions would participate in the protest. The report did not include a response from the forest department to the employees’ allegations or details of any administrative decision on the demands. The planned protest is scheduled to begin with the march to Aranya Bhavan on October 27.
