GSFDC workers threaten stir

The employees have threatened to launch an agitation within a month if the State Government failed to take any decision, the committee chairman Chandubhai Pillay told Express Newsline on Wednesday. Although the Bhuria Committee’s recommendations were implemented last year, GSFDC was appointed official agent of Panchayat only last month. Pillay said although the employees have hardly any work at the moment, a general feeling of insecurity has crept in about the future. Ironically, the Government is yet to take a clear stand on the issue, he said.

“There is neither a mention of a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for GSFDC employees, nor were there any plans to send employees to other departments on deputation. There isn’t even any initiate to extend their work as agents for the Panchayat department,” Pillay said. A memorandum was submitted to Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel during his visit to Sankheda taluka on November 28, he said.

About the Bhuria Committee’s recommendations and the State Government’s subsequent decision to adopt it, Pillay, who is also the Sales Manager in GSFDC, says all major works pertaining to minor forest produces (a total of 54) such as “mahuda”, “timru”, “doli”, gums — which fetch the 22-year old GSFDC more than Rs 20 crore to Rs 25 crore annually — have now been given to the Panchayat department.

The GSFDC Managing Director Dr D P S Verma and District Development Officer Anju Sharma, however, expressed ignorance about any decision or plan to downsize the GSFDC. The employee fear over their future is, thus, baseless, they opined. While Verma highlights the “expansion plans of the GSFDC,” Sharma said it is the State Government and not her department which can take any decision regarding the GSFDC staff. However, this is precisely what anguishes the GSFDC employees, who say a delay in decision will only frustrate them and will mean a haphazard treatment to them later.