SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said that the shortage of staff in the JK Forest Development Corporation (JKFDC) is the result of a recruitment freeze that has remained in force for more than two decades.
Replying to a question in the Assembly, the Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment stated that the hiring ban followed a decision taken during the Budget Cabinet meeting on August 22, 2000. The JKFDC Board of Directors later endorsed the decision in its 56th meeting on January 5, 2004, resolving that no new appointments would be made in the corporation.
The minister informed the House that the corporation currently has 1,323 employees, comprising 23 gazetted officers, 333 non-gazetted staff members, 182 Class IV employees and 785 helpers.
Addressing concerns about coordination, the minister said the JKFDC maintains proper coordination with other wings of the Forest Department, particularly in matters related to timber extraction and distribution to beneficiaries.
