Kadapa: Temporary employees in the forest department have not been paid their monthly emoluments for the past four months. As many as 432 such people exist in Kadapa district alone, of which 142 are working in Kadapa forest division, 130 in Proddatur division and 160 in Rajampet.
They work both day and night and are in the forefront of the drive against red sanders smuggling.
The temporary staff complain that the government and the forest officials do not care for them.
Among them, watchers get a pay of `7,000 after cuttings while `12,970 is given to computer operators and drivers. Their monthly pay remained irregular for the past two years. Even DFOs are unable to say when they will be paid.
While the employees working under the Compensatory Forestry Fund (CAF) scheme are receiving their pay somewhat regularly, the temporary staff of the social forestry and some other sectors are facing the problems of pay.
Those in the social forestry sector were paid until March 2021 from the 2 per cent funds generated under administrative cost in NREGS Funds. It stopped short of modifying the software since March, and it is impossible now to use the funds.
Palempalli Babu, a driver at the district forest office (social forestry), told Deccan Chronicle that he has been working for more than five years. In the past, salaries were paid once in two months and there was no pay for the past four months. He is borrowing from relatives to support his family.
Jilani Basha, computer operator in the district forest office, said his family is burdened by the untimely payment. He was borrowing for the children's education and other expenses. The government has put them under the purview of the AP Corporation for Outsourced Services (APCOS), he said and pleaded that the temporary staff be paid their monthly emoluments on time.
Kurnool Circle forest conservation officer Putta Ramakrishna admitted that temporary staff in Kadapa district had not received their salaries for four months. This has already been brought to the notice of the chief conservator of forests, he said. “We have uploaded the relevant papers and are waiting for release of funds from the finance department. The pay for temporary employees of Kurnool and Nandyala divisions had been received but not for the three divisions in Kadapa district.”
“This is not in the hands of the circle conservator or the DFO. The matter was brought to the notice of principal conservator of forests and hopefully the funds will be released soon,” he said.
