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| Over 2500 JKFDC employees without wages for more than two months | | Amid lockdown restrictions, staff faces hardships without salaries | | Early Times Report
Jammu, June 23: A new entity under Companies Act, Jammu and Kashmir Forest Development Corporation (JKFDC) has replaced the erstwhile State Forest Corporation (SFC) but over 2500 employees including officials have been deprived of the salaries of last two months, leaving them under acute distress amid lockdown restrictions.
The Union government on 31st March, 2020 had issued a gazetted notification, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 96 of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 20199 (34 of 2019) by way of which it had repealed as whole the Jammu and Kashmir State Forest Corporation Act 1978.
After repealing of the Act, the government had plans to place the SFC under a new framework and as per decision taken by Administrative Council (AC) in the first week of June, the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Development Corporation (JKFDC) was created under Companies Act 2013.
The JKFDC was created to replace the Jammu and Kashmir State Forest Corporation, which had ceased to exist after March 31.
However the employees were without salaries, since the repealing of Act of 1978 but in the meantime, the UT administration had taken a decision and released the salary of only one month that was of March 2020.
“The salary of March 2020 was released by the administration in the month of June, when the three months’ salary was pending”, the employees said, adding that though hopes were generated by the release of salary of one month but since then there was no decision to release the salary of April and May 2020.
The employees said that due to non-payment of salaries they have been facing hardships. “Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we have to rely on our personal vehicles for any movement. Moreover the expenditure during the lockdown months has also increased besides the employees have also to go for duties, where there is requirement of salaries, but same is not paid by department”, the employees rued, adding that majority of the employees have to pay the instalments of various types of loans but due to no salary, it has become very difficult to pay the instalments.
“For how long the employees can meet the expenditures from their savings as well as from the money taken from relatives or friends”, an employee said, adding that without wasting any time, the administration should take steps for regular payment of salaries to the employees.
Managing Director of Corporation, Vasu Yadav said that due to COVID-19 restrictions there were no timber actions in the month of March, April and May. “The Forest Corporation has experienced significant dip in the monthly revenue, which is one of the primary reason behind non-payment of salaries”, Vasu Yadav said, in response to a message. |
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