RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, May 24: Cooks and other fourth grade workers of Jharkhand Jaguar, who move with the assault force of battalion in difficult areas, are struggling to get back their risk allowance.
They have knocked the door of Jharkhand High Court for an allowance and additional compensatory leave of 20 days which has been stopped since November 2021.
Vice president of Jharkhand Jaguar Fourth Grade Employee Association Shravan Kumar Ravi informed lagatar24.com that the allowance and facilities given to them like soldiers and officers of the battalion have been stopped which make them feel neglected and unmotivated.
“Our contribution to the success of the battalion is no less. We also accompany the soldiers in difficult areas and take care of them by cooking food to supply it in the area of operations. Besides this, we do other work that is required to keep them hale and hearty. Till October last year, we were given due importance. But after that, we have started to get step motherly treatment,” Ravi said, expressing his concern over the situation.
“After risk allowance, which used to be 50 percent of basic salary, has been stopped, our income has drastically reduced and those among us who have taken out a loan, keeping the risk allowance in mind, are facing difficulty in loan repayment. Earlier, we were entitled for 38 days leave including 20 compensatory leave and 18 casual leave. Now we are not entitled for compensatory leave. Apart from this, our family members have also lost entitlement to many facilities in case of our death during duty,” Ravi said.
A senior officer of the battalion confirmed the situation saying the action was taken following the direction of the home department.
“Home department has directed to pay risk allowances to only those who wear uniforms. Those not using uniform are not entitled for the same allowance. Though we are not happy but shared the concerns of affected fourth grade employees who are hardly 280 in numbers, a proper direction in the matter has yet to come,” the senior officer said, expressing anonymity.
Ravi said the last hearing in the matter had taken place on April 28 and on that day the government had sought time of four weeks to file a reply.
“Now we are waiting for the government’s reply in the matter,” Ravi said, sharing the concern of fourth grade employees of Jharkhand Jaguar.
Jharkhand Jaguar came into existence after the Jharkhand government on February 19, 2008 and sanctioned the creation of 20 Assault Groups of Special Task Force (STF) for eradication of extremism in Jharkhand.
