Agartala: Dec 02: Forest workers have become vocal in their demand for permanent employment. Today, they and their family members locked the main gate of the Sipahijala Sanctuary and staged a sit-in. Meanwhile, Bishalgarh police rushed to the scene after receiving the news.
A forest worker said, “In August 2021, 720 forest workers were recruited from across the state under the contract-based Van Mitra project initiated by the Forest Department. At that time, the workers’ salary was Rs. 3000. They were told that the salary would be Rs. 3000 and that it would increase over time. Currently, their salary is Rs. 4820. But the forest workers have not been permanently employed. When the state forest department initially offered them this job, it was clearly stated that it could never be taken up in another project, nor could it be permanently employed. Nevertheless, the forest workers, along with their families, have locked the main gate of the Sipahijala Sanctuary, which is open during the picnic season, since Monday morning and are on an indefinite strike.”
Meanwhile, Bishalgarh police, along with the TSR force, rushed to the scene after receiving news of the incident. However, no official from the Forest Department was seen at the scene. On the other hand, tourists are in trouble as the main gate of the Sipahijala Sanctuary has been locked during the picnic season without any notice.
