Agartala: Nov 20: Forest department permanent workers have reached a breaking point due to unpaid wages. In protest, they went on strike on Wednesday in front of Nehru Park, located in the Gorkha Basti area of the capital. These workers have been employed in the department for 15 to 20 years.
Seven years ago, 363 workers were officially approved by the department. Currently, their salaries amount to only 13,000 rupees per month. However, the workers argue that this amount is insufficient to support their families, especially with the rising cost of living. Many are approaching retirement, with some facing health issues like cancer. As a result, they are struggling to manage their households on such a low salary.
Despite repeated appeals over the past two years to Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, and the Forest Minister, no solution has been provided. The ministers have only offered assurances that the issue is being looked into, but no concrete action has been taken to increase their pay. Frustrated by this inaction, the workers have decided to escalate their protest. They have made it clear that if the government does not address their demands promptly, they will continue their struggle until their concerns are resolved.
