Forest Frontline Staff of J&K Seek Justice, Demand Pay Parity, Risk Allowance and Martyr Policy

Convener News Desk

Srinagar/Jammu, Jan 21: The Forest Frontline Staff of the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department, including Forest Guards, Deputy Foresters and Foresters, have renewed their long-pending demands, seeking urgent redressal of pay anomalies, grant of additional salary for uninterrupted duties, risk allowance, uniform allowance and a structured martyr relief policy for personnel who lose their lives in the line of duty.
The frontline staff said they form the backbone of forest protection and environmental security in the Union Territory, performing round-the-clock duties in remote, rugged and high-risk terrains, yet their service-related issues have remained unresolved for years.
“These are the personnel who fight forest fires with bare hands, patrol forests at night, confront smugglers, face wild animals and natural calamities, and stand guard so that forests survive and biodiversity is protected,” the staff said, adding that their duty begins where roads end and habitation ceases.
Highlighting the nature of their responsibilities, the staff said forest personnel are engaged in night patrolling, fire prevention and firefighting, seizure of illicit forest produce, prosecution under forest laws, scientific surveys, boundary demarcation, plantation works, eco-tourism management and constant public interaction—often without Sundays, holidays or fixed duty hours.
A major concern raised is the persistent pay anomaly, with Forest Guards still placed in Pay Level-2, while other comparable grassroots cadres have been upgraded to higher pay levels. The staff termed this disparity unjust, particularly when forest personnel exercise statutory law-enforcement powers and perform hazardous duties.
The frontline staff also demanded the grant of a 2½-day additional salary, stating that continuous service without weekly offs or gazetted holidays remains unrecognised despite the demanding nature of their work.
Expressing serious concern over the absence of a Risk Allowance, the staff said forest personnel in Jammu and Kashmir routinely face threats from timber smugglers, forest fires, wildlife encounters and treacherous terrain. They pointed out that over 130 forest guards have been martyred so far, yet no comprehensive compensation mechanism or national-level martyr policy exists. While September 11 is observed as Forest Martyrs’ Day at the national level, they said no concrete ex-gratia or rehabilitation policy has followed.
Citing recent tragedies, the staff recalled that in December 2025, Forest Guard Gull Mohammad Shah lost his life while battling a massive forest fire in Anantnag after slipping down a steep slope without proper equipment. In another incident, Shameem Ahmad Mir (44) of Batwina, Ganderbal, drowned in the River Sindh on May 23, 2025, while on duty, with his body recovered four days later. Similarly, Mohd Iqbal Zargar, a Forest Guard from Doda, died on December 29, 2025, after being struck by a falling stone during a stone slide near Gaadi Nallah while on duty.
The staff also highlighted the high-risk working environment, noting that in 2025 alone, 324 timber smugglers were booked and 149 FIRs lodged in Kashmir, reflecting the constant confrontation forest guards face. The Forest Department recorded 1,243 forest fire incidents during 2024–25, with particularly dangerous spikes in early 2025. Additionally, 16 people were killed and 180 injured in human-wildlife conflict incidents across J&K during the same period.
The Forest Frontline Staff further demanded a structured martyr relief and compassionate support framework for families of deceased personnel, along with a uniform allowance, stating that a uniformed force entrusted with protecting natural resources deserves dignity, security and institutional respect.
The staff informed that they recently met the Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment and expressed hope for a time-bound resolution. They have also appealed to the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir to personally intervene and address their demands on priority.
Reaffirming their faith in democratic and institutional processes, the Forest Frontline Staff said their struggle is a collective, lawful and disciplined effort for justice and recognition. They added that timely resolution of these issues would not only restore morale among forest personnel but also strengthen forest governance and environmental conservation in Jammu and Kashmir.