TURA/ SHILLONG: The 225 Forest Home Guard Volunteers whose services were terminated on June 25 by the Divisional Forest Officer, Garo Hills Division, have submitted a memorandum to the Commandant of Home Guards, West Garo Hills, appealing for re-instatement in their earlier posts.
Most of the Forest Home Guard Volunteers were deployed with the Forest Department at Dainadubi Range with effect from June 1, 1996, while others had joined later on subsequent orders. Their services were dispensed with on June 25 this year, the reason stated being that their services were no longer required.
The sudden termination of their services without any prior notice has shocked the Home Guard Volunteers who feel that their lifelines have been cut short.
“We have been serving the Department for more than 18 years and now we have no other alternative to seek for new appointment due to age factor. Further, most of us have families and as such it is very difficult for us to earn our livelihoods anywhere else. We are therefore appealing to the parent department to reinstate us in our earlier posts,” the aggrieved volunteers stated in their memorandum a copy of which has also been submitted to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, Chief Secretary P.B.O. Warjri and all concerned officials of the Forest Department.
It may be reminded that the Forest Home Guard Volunteers had earlier demonstrated in front of Forest Offices for failure of the department to release their salaries for the months of February and March even deciding to camp outside with their families until their salaries were released. The Forest authorities had then assured them that their salaries would be paid within 15 days.
While their pending salaries were eventually paid they were at the same time dismissed from service with no prior notification being given or any kind of life security i.e. compensation.
The Home Guard Volunteers now feel that they have been cheated with no alternative means of sustenance. They can only hope that their appeal is heard by the parent department and they are reinstated in their posts to enable them to earn their living.
In the past, many cases have been reported in Garo Hills where Forest personnel were either attacked by militants or by anti social elements.
An official of the Forest department on the request of anonymity said that the services were withdrawn since the Forest department wanted Armed Home Guards and the department had expressed its inability to provide armed home guards.
However, the official said that the Forest personnel in the forest areas have their beats and mobile protection squads are working round the clock to ensure protection of the forests.
Earlier this year, armed miscreants entered the Forest Beat house at Adokgre, assaulted one of the staff and forcibly took away three sal logs and four teak logs in a vehicle (AS-01L-8349) towards Assam.
Later, the same miscreants abducted eight Forest personnel. However, on February 8, the abducted Forest personnel were released.
It is also a fact that many militant organisations are taking shelter in the deep and thick forests of Garo Hills.
However, the official said that the militants usually do not cause any damage to forests since they need shelter in thick forests from police personnel.
The official also believes that the community who are staying near the forest should tackle the problem and take measures along with the department in the protection of the forests.