In a novel protest on Saturday, over 150 van majoors stopped over 200 tourists from entering into Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary to protest
against non-payment of wages for the past six months. Among those who were not allowed entry included two legislators.
Perturbed by the turn of events, the two MLAs have decided to take up the non-payment of wages and regularisation of van majoors with the forest minister and will also raise the issue in the assembly.
The van majoors (temporary forest workers), under the banner of Maharashtra State Forest Guards, Forest Employees and Foresters Union, Nagpur, protested against the apathy of the government for not paying wages from June to November 2009.
Since 6 am, the forest workers launched peaceful protests by sitting on a dharna in front of Nagzira sanctuary gates at Pitezari, Chorkhamara and Kosamtondi. They did not allow a single vehicle inside. At Pitezari gate, 30 vehicles were stranded. Two MLAs were among those who bore the brunt.
Speaking to TOI, Shiv Sena MLA from Kankawli (Sindhudurg), Parshuram Uparkar, accompanied by MLC Ramprasad Bordikar, said: "We reached Pitezari gate at 12 noon but were not allowed. We intervened and promised to raise workers' demand in the assembly. They have not been paid for long. They have also not been regularised despite assurance on the floor of the House by earlier forest minister," Uparkar said. "We will meet forest minister Patangrao Kadam with union leaders on Monday," the Sena MLA added.
Meanwhile, MM Kulkarni, deputy conservator of forests (DyCF), Gondia Wildlife Division, tried to pacify the agitated workers by promising them to pay wages for three months (June, July & August) but workers were firm on their stand. Official sources said, Rs 19 lakh and Rs 75 lakh were released recently for wildlife and Nagpur territorial circle towards payment of wages and other works.
Siraj Patel, central president of the forest union, warned that if pending wages of van majoors are not released by January 1, the workers will boycott tiger census work, which is likely to begin next month. "We had intimated about the strike well in advance," Patel told TOI.
The veteran union leader said similar protests to stop tourists from entering into wildlife areas will continue until wages are not paid. Patel also flayed the high-handedness of Bhandara police officials who dumped the workers in a vehicle for protesting peacefully. However, it was only after the intervention of MLAs the matter was resolved.