Contract staff of Central Chanda forest division unpaid for 7-8 months, threaten strike from Nov 5

Gondpipri: Contract computer operators, plantation labourers and seasonal watchmen working in the Central Chanda forest division have not received their honorarium (mandhan) for the past seven to eight months. The staff are deeply aggrieved. With Diwali close and no payment received, they have submitted a representation to the forest department administration seeking payment of all pending dues before the festival. They have also warned of an indefinite work stoppage from November 5, 2026, if this does not happen.

The employees are working in very difficult conditions. They contribute significantly to the department's daily administrative work, plantation work and other forest-related tasks. They are also doing specific work to prevent conflict between humans and wildlife. Despite this, they have not been paid for seven to eight months and now face a financial crisis.

Without pay, running their households, paying for children's education and medical treatment, meeting loan instalments and handling other family responsibilities has become very hard for them. While officers and other staff prepare to celebrate Diwali happily, the contract workers are in danger of missing the festival because their dues have not been paid. The situation is such that the shopkeeper will not give credit and the forest officials do not pay salaries.

The employees have expressed hope that the administration will attend to their financial distress before any unfortunate incident occurs and pay their rightful wages on time. In the representation, they have demanded that all pending wages be paid by November 4, 2026. If wages are not paid by then, all contract computer operators and plantation labourers of the Central Chanda forest division will begin an indefinite work stoppage from November 5. The representation carries a clear warning to this effect.

The representation also states that the agitation will not be withdrawn until the pending honorarium is paid in full. All the employees concerned are now watching to see how seriously the forest department administration treats the matter and whether the dues are credited to their accounts before Diwali.