Srinagar September 13 (KNS):  Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Jammu Kashmir, Dr Mohit Gira on Sunday said department is working to address the reorganisation demand of the employees and other service benefits of forest department. 

"The several issues of our frontline staff like, seniority, allowances and other things have been already communicated to administration, for which several provisions have been already made, and many more are in progress. Lot has been done, lot need to do," he said while exclusively speaking to Kashmir News Service (KNS).

Dr Gira said that issues like basic allowance, risk allowance, seniority of our frontline staff are being taken on priority for which several provisions have been already made, and many more are in progress.

"All these things are being looked at administrative level positively to get things done on priority," he said.

However he said in some cases there are litigations pending in courts, some demands are being addressed at administrative level. The main demand of employees is reorganisation. "Forest guards have very less promotion avenues," he said.

"To have reasonable number of Forest Guards, Foresters and Rangers at divisional level, re-organisation will address the issue. Proposal has been submitted to the administrative department," he added.

PCCF also said that forest department has enough equipment’s and funds to deal with any situation, whether its dousing forest fire, chasing forest smugglers or others challenges. "We are committed to do our best always. Every division has sufficient funds. We have made every facility available to forest department officials" he said, adding that two and a half day salary, risk allowance, benevolent fund was are also increased."

He said that the department has made some amendments earlier in 2021 where benevolent fund has been increased from Rs one lakh to Rs 2 lakh for death, Rs 25 thousand to Rs 50 thousand for injury. All this is being done at departmental level.

To boost the morale of forest officials, department has started initiative of providing departmental level and UT level awards to the front line workers based on their performance. Besides their other issue also being looked; Forest Protection Force is being provided risk allowance," he said.

He said that all the necessary steps are being taken by the forest department to attract visitors across the valley to visit the eco-tourism spots.

The objective of developing eco-tourism facility is also to uplift economic conditions of people living in rural and remote areas, he said.

Even in militancy, the forest officials played critical role in protecting the green gold, some laid their lives in the line of duty, he said while paying tribute to all the martyrs.

To remember their sacrifices, in 2002, Government decided to come up with memorials, however due certain reasons it didn’t happen then, "but in last one and half year we have built four memorials to remember martyrs." he added.(KNS)