Srinagar, Jan 29: Scores of wildlife casual labourers staged a protest outside the residence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar on Wednesday demanding salaries at par with other casual employees.
The protesting labourers later met National Conference President Farooq Abdullah who invited them to Jammu on Monday to settle down the issue with the forest Minister there.
The protesting labourers assembled in front of the residence of Chief Minister at Gupkar Road here and demanded a monthly salary of Rs 9030 at par with the casual labourers of other departments.
The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was in Jammu.
“We are demanding a regular salary of Rs 9030 as being paid to other casual labourers of other departments monthly”, President of Wild Life Casual Labourers Association Bilal Ahmad Dar told media persons.
“We have not assembled here to stage the protest to demand regularisation of our jobs, but to seek regular monthly disbursement of salary in favour of the Wildlife employees”, Dar said.
The President alleged that the employees of Wildlife are being paid Rs 2000 on the eve of Eid and Holi every year.
He said that a delegation of employees met the Forest minister in Srinagar and Jammu recently, and there was no serious response from him.
Dar said that as soon as the protesting employees were detained by the police, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah called them for a meeting which was held on a positive note.
“Farooq Sahab invited us to Jammu on Monday at his residence and assured that he will also call the Forest minister there to settle down the issue”, Dar said and added “we are hopeful that our demand would be accepted”
