JNM Journalist Hardeep Jamwal | Jammu
The controversy surrounding outsourcing in government departments across Jammu & Kashmir continues to escalate. A proposal to outsource the services of over 1,300 temporary employees in the Forest Department has triggered widespread resentment among the staff. Having served the department for nearly two decades, these employees are now anxious about their future and have launched a protest against the decision.
According to reports, these employees have been performing various duties—ranging from watch-and-ward, forest fire control, and plantation protection to wildlife conservation, vehicle operation, and emergency tasks—since 2004. The employees state that they have dedicated the prime years of their lives to the department, yet instead of being regularized, plans are now underway to engage them through private agencies.
It is reported that the proposal to outsource existing manpower was approved during a meeting of the CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) screening committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary, on June 18. The committee has also recommended forwarding the proposal to the National CAMPA Executive Committee for final approval. Under the proposal, future staff recruitment would be conducted via the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal.
Following the announcement of the proposal, a large number of employees have staged a sit-in protest outside the office of the Chief Wildlife Warden in Srinagar. They argue that while the government had promised regularization for years, the decision to outsource would render their future completely insecure.
The protesting employees maintain that being handed over to private companies would severely impact their jobs, salaries, and service conditions. They allege that the government should have prioritized the regularization of long-serving employees.
Meanwhile, Chief Wildlife Warden Chaturbhuj Behera stated that his office has not received any official order regarding the outsourcing plan. He clarified that appointments of temporary staff under CAMPA are made based on requirements and available funds, and these are not permanent positions.
The issue has now taken a political turn. Along with opposition parties, the BJP has also demanded that the government reconsider its outsourcing policy and safeguard the interests of long-serving employees.
According to government data, over 22,000 positions across 29 departments in Jammu and Kashmir have been outsourced through more than 200 private companies over the past two years. The government’s annual expenditure on these services is reported to be around ₹200 crore.
Currently, the employees are on an indefinite protest, demanding that the government withdraw the outsourcing proposal and regularize the staff who have been serving for years. All eyes are now on the decision the government takes regarding this matter in the coming days.
