PANJIM: Wildlife rescuers working with Forest Department, as daily wage workers, have demanded that their services be regularised and they be given increment in wages and other benefits.
Speaking to O Heraldo, one of the rescuers, who did not wish to be named, said, "Many of us have been giving our service for the last over 10 years. We have made many representations to the Chief Minister, Forest Minister and Chief Conservator of Forest but till date we have not received any benefits. Even the issue had been raised in the State Legislative Assembly on many occasions but still no decision has been taken. We get around Rs 13,000 per month and that too gets reduced if we take leave. We are not entitled for casual or sick leaves."
However, it is not the first time that the rescuers had made the demand for regularisation of jobs. Earlier, they had submitted a representation to Chief Principal Conservator requesting him to consider an increment in salary, provision of life safety and other consequential benefits.
In the representation, the rescuers had said, "We have been working whole-heartedly towards the job assigned to us to the best satisfaction of our superiors. We have been appointed as daily basis labourers for the consideration of a salary of Rs 544 per day. We have been answering all emergency services of the public for 24 hours, doing risky jobs for the safety and benefit of the people. We execute assigned work even by putting our lives in danger."
"Considering the efforts and the services provided by us we feel that we have not been paid with the best consideration according to the salary fixed for wildlife rescuers nor provided life safety benefits like provident fund, health insurance and other benefits, the way provided to the employees appointed by the government," the rescuers had said.
Their demand included increase in salary, provision of life safety benefits like provident fund, health insurance and regularisation of service or confirmation. They had also demanded that they should be given first preference in future if any post of animal attendant falls vacant.
There are a total of 40 wildlife rescuers in the State. While North Goa has 27 wildlife rescuers, 13 rescuers are posted in the South Goa district.