Tadoba guides to stage dharna on May 11 over various demands

Nagpur: Guides from Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) will sit on a day’s dharna outside the office of the chief conservator of forests (CCF) at Chandrapur in May 11.

According to the Abhayaranya Guides Karmachari Sangh (AGKS) Maharashtra Pradesh, authorities have been ignoring many of their demands despite meetings and reminders.
On its letterhead, AGKS states it is affiliated with the national labor union body Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh. Their demands include payment, and employment issues apart from concerns over insurance policies of employees.

Praveen Kanoje, president of AGKS, said, “For a long time we have been in touch with forest officials regarding various demands. To date, however, they have not given a written reply to our organization.”

AGKS members met on April 20 and decided to go ahead with a sit-in dharna. Kanoje said, “We will be there from noon to 5 pm. We hope officials will meet us and resolve the pending issues.”

Kanoje said, “Our guides must start getting payslips with provident fund deductions. The guides are being graded and paid on basis of it, but the officials are charging the full amount from the tourists.”

AGKS also wants the Wednesday ‘shramdaan’ to become voluntary. “On Wednesday, safari is closed in our area, and guides are called to work in the jungle to clear fallen trees along gypsy routes, etc. But instead of being voluntary, this exercise is being made mandatory,” said Kanoje.

The organization has also demanded that locals be employed at every safari gate. “In certain places, like Kesalghat, youths from the immediate vicinity are not being deployed. Some incidents had occurred there and since then youths from other villages are being employed. This discrimination must end,” said Kanoje.

AGKS has also demanded group insurance for all guides. “What if something happens to our guides? It is only common sense that the forest department must take insurance policies on their behalf,” said Kanoje.