Mysore/Mysuru: Urging for the cancellation of unscientific outsourcing arrangements that has been implemented illegally and to implement monthly salary among other demands, the outsourced employees of the Forest Department have threatened to stage indefinite protest from Apr. 30, said Karnataka State Forest Department Daily Wages Outsourced Employees Association State Working President A.M. Nataraju. 

Addressing a press meet at a private hotel in city recently, he said that over 3,000 outsourced employees have been working in Anti-Poaching Units, Protection Camps, Check-Posts, Elephant Task Force, Office Assistants and as drivers in all Wildlife Divisions since 1996 and alleged that they were looked down upon as slaves and were deprived of all facilities.

Pointing out that there are no benefits for outsourced employees though made to work for 24 hours a day, he said that there are also no ESI and PF facilities and if any employee dies in tiger, elephant and other wildlife attacks, no one cares.

Nataraju has urged the State Government and the Forest Department to cancel daily wages and implement monthly salary, extend welfare measures and provide ESI and PF facilities. He also demanded a probe into the death of Kallahalla Range employee Gopal, who died while on duty.

Association’s State Vice-President S.S. Harish, Veeresh Dandeli, Mukhtar Ballari, Annaiahswamy Bandipur, Raju N. Begur, Krishnaraju, Channaiah Veeranahosahalli, Narasimha Nagarahole, Nissar, Mahesh Madikeri, Manju, Sudarshan, Rajesh Bandipur, Kushalappa Pushpagiri, Siddalingu Maddur, Nagegowda Antharasanthe and others were present at the  press meet.