Srinagar, Feb 02 (KNS): In the dense forests of North Kashmir, where towering trees stand as silent witnesses to decades of dedication, Ghulam Rasool Lone, a 62-year-old daily wager from Zaloora, Sopore, finds himself abandoned by the very department he served for 33 years.
His job was to protect the forests—shielding them from timber smugglers, forest fires, and illegal encroachments. But today, as he retires, there is no recognition, no pension, and no financial security—only despair.
Tears well up in his tired eyes as Ghulam Rasool narrates his ordeal, his voice heavy with sorrow. “I spent my whole life in these forests, believing that one day, I would be regularized. I thought I would have something to sustain my family after retirement. But now, I have nothing.”
Like him, hundreds of daily wagers in the Forest Department across Jammu and Kashmir are on the verge of retirement, having spent decades safeguarding nature without ever being regularized. Despite multiple appeals to authorities, their pleas have gone unheard. Many have dedicated their youth to protecting these forests, only to be cast aside in their old age.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Ghulam Rasool began his journey in the department with a meager wage of Rs 750 per month. Over the years, his earnings increased slightly, but never enough to secure a stable future. With no job security, he spent his best years clinging to the hope of permanent employment. Now, as his body weakens, he struggles to feed his family.
His wife sits in silence, staring at their empty kitchen shelves, while his daughter contemplates leaving her education to earn a living. The same forests he protected for decades will remain standing, but the man who devoted his life to them has been forgotten.
The plight of these daily wagers raises serious questions about the system. How can a government rely on their service for decades yet refuse to acknowledge their contribution? With retirement looming for many, urgent intervention is needed to ensure these forgotten guardians of nature receive the dignity, recognition, and financial security they deserve(KNS)