Chennai: Tension prevailed at Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur on Thursday after its temporary staff staged demonstration seeking job regularisation. The demonstrators warned the authorities that they would block traffic and not attend to wild animals and visitors if their demands were not met immediately. “Temporary staffers are treated like bonded labourers. We were not given Pongal festival bonus for the last two years and there is no promotion for the casual workers, even after 20 years of service,” one of the demonstrators said.
“Most of us have been working in the zoo for more than 10 years and in the 30-year history of zoo, three employees have died, while handling wild animals. Zoo authorities buried the issue under carpet and has not provided any relief to the affected and their families,” read a pamphlet distributed to those visiting the zoo. “There is no transparency in zoo administration and promotions are given only to those who are in good books, if our demands were not met the administrators would be exposed,” said another zoo staffer adding the Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation and Research, brain child of Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa is still not put to use despite completion.
Posts of biologists and scientists required for the Centre is not filled for the reasons best known to them. The authorities are delaying purchase of high-end equipment for the labs, a demonstrator said. Zoo director and spokesperson were not available for comments.
