Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. JAMMU: The Synergetic Green Warriors Foundation (SGWF) has come forward to join hands in the resolution of long-pending and genuine demands of the frontline staff of the Jammu & Kashmir Forest Department, acknowledging their tireless service in protecting the region’s invaluable forest wealth.
During a detailed field survey conducted by SGWF, it was observed with deep concern that many officials who joined the Forest Department as Forest Guards or Foresters have retired in the same cadre without receiving even a single promotion throughout their entire service career. Despite working 24×7 under extremely challenging and risky conditions, these frontline staff continue to face systemic neglect.
SGWF highlighted that forest frontline workers are entrusted with the protection of the state’s “green gold” — an open treasury of immense ecological and economic value. Yet, they are deprived of basic entitlements such as two-and-a-half day salary, risk allowance, resolution of pay anomalies, timely promotions, and appropriate enhancement in pay levels.
The Foundation expressed serious concern over the existing disparity, noting that while frontline forest staff perform physically demanding and high-risk duties, comparable departments such as Patwari and VLW cadres have been placed at Pay Level 4, despite their roles not involving similar levels of hardship, field exposure, or life-threatening risks.
The Synergetic Green Warriors Foundation has assured the Non-Gazetted Forest Officers Association (NGFOA) of its full support in their ongoing movement and reiterated its commitment to ensuring that justice is delivered to the green warriors of the Forest Department.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sonia Verma, Director, SGWF, emphasized that the Foundation stands firmly with frontline forest staff. She recalled her extensive on-ground engagement with them in initiatives including forest fire mitigation, Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) strengthening, Forest Rights Act (FRA) resolutions, and several other conservation and community-based programs.
Dr. Verma assured that SGWF will continue to provide all possible institutional, technical, and advocacy support to highlight the legitimate demands of the Forest Department’s frontline workforce at appropriate forums.
The Synergetic Green Warriors Foundation firmly believes that protectors of nature deserve dignity, fairness, and timely recognition, and calls upon the concerned authorities to take immediate and empathetic steps to resolve these long-pending issues in the larger interest of environmental conservation and social justice.