Guwahati: Employees working under the contingency and Project Tiger categories at Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve have threatened to suspend work if their pending wages for six months are not cleared within 10 days.
In a memorandum submitted to the Conservator of Forests and Field Director of Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve on October 12, the employees said their wages for the period from April to September 2026 remained unpaid, despite their continued involvement in the protection and management of the reserve.
The employees said the prolonged delay had pushed them and their families into severe financial hardship, making it increasingly difficult to meet basic household expenses.
According to the memorandum, many initially depended on credit from local shops to purchase essential items. However, they said shopkeepers had stopped extending credit because of the continued non-payment of wages.
The employees said they were struggling to afford food and other daily necessities, children’s school fees, medical expenses, electricity bills and cooking gas. Some had also been forced to take loans to meet routine expenses, increasing their financial burden through interest payments.
With the festive season approaching, the absence of regular wages has further aggravated their difficulties, the employees said, adding that many families were finding it hard to meet customary festival expenses.
The memorandum also alleged that delayed salary payments had become an annual problem, forcing employees to submit repeated representations and stage peaceful protests to secure their dues.
Describing the situation as detrimental to their morale, dignity and financial security, the employees urged the authorities to release all six months of outstanding wages within 10 days of receiving the memorandum.
They warned that failure to meet the deadline would leave them with no option but to vacate their respective camps until the outstanding payments were cleared. They also said they would exercise their lawful rights by organising a peaceful and democratic protest.
The employees further announced that they would adopt a “no pay, no work” position until their entire six months’ salary was paid, stating that they would not resume their duties until all dues were cleared.
Copies of the memorandum were sent to Arunachal Pradesh Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Wangki Lowang; MLA and ministerial adviser Wanglin Lowangdong; MLA and adviser to the Chief Minister Kamlung Mosang; senior forest department officials; the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Miao; and other officials associated with Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve.