Employees of Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh have threatened to vacate their camps and suspend work if their wages for six months are not released within 10 days.
In a memorandum to the Conservator of Forests and Field Director of the reserve in Miao, contingency and Project Tiger employees said their wages for April to September 2026 remained unpaid despite their continued work in forest protection and management.
The employees said the delay had left them struggling to meet household expenses, including food, children’s school fees, medical bills, electricity charges and cooking gas costs. Some had initially relied on credit from local shopkeepers, but mounting arrears had led shopkeepers to stop extending credit. Several employees had subsequently borrowed money from lenders and incurred additional interest payments.
With the festive season approaching, the employees said their families were also struggling to afford essential provisions, clothing and customary expenses.
They alleged that delayed wage payments had become a recurring problem, forcing them to submit representations and stage peaceful protests to secure their dues. The situation, they said, had undermined their morale, dignity and financial security.
The employees have demanded payment of all outstanding wages within 10 days of submitting the memorandum. If the deadline is not met, they said they would vacate their camps and organise a peaceful, democratic protest in accordance with the law.
Invoking the slogan “No Pay, No Work”, they said they would not resume duties until they received their full wages for the six-month period.
