JAMMU, Aug 21: A delegation of forest contractors, led by State President of Hindustan Shiv Sena Vikrant Kapoor, met Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force, Jammu & Kashmir, Sarvesh Rai (IFS), today and discussed various issues concerning the forest contracting community.
The delegation included forest contractors Sunaksh Gupta, Yashpal Gupta and others. During the meeting, the representatives apprised the PCCF of several issues affecting forest contractors and their livelihoods. The delegation also held an in-depth discussion on matters directly linked with their employment and livelihood concerns.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Vikrant Kapoor said that the delegation placed their concerns before the senior forest official and sought appropriate intervention for their early resolution. He said the issues raised were discussed in detail and that the PCCF gave a patient hearing to the representatives.
Kapoor said Sarvesh Rai assured the delegation that their concerns would be considered sympathetically and that every possible effort would be made to address the issues raised by the forest contractors. The assurance has raised hopes among the contractors for concrete steps towards resolving their long-pending concerns.
The delegation expressed gratitude to the PCCF for giving them an opportunity to present their issues and for assuring them of appropriate action. Vikrant Kapoor and the accompanying contractors said they were hopeful that the Forest Department would take necessary measures for the early resolution of their livelihood-related and other concerns.