Forest guards on strike, SRP personnel put on lion watch

Ahmedabad: For the first time, the Gujarat government has roped in State Reserve Police (SRP) personnel to surveil Asiatic lions. The state government has sent three companies of SRP to guard the lions in the Greater Gir area and revenue areas where the lions have created permanent homes.
The government was forced to deploy teams of SRP in Junagadh and Amreli districts because forest guards have gone on an indefinite strike over various demands, officials said.The officials said that these cops will carry sticks and not firearms.
The official said that the teams will be deployed in forest, revenue, and sensitive areas and at other places as deemed fit by range forest officers.
The SRP teams are from Rajkot and Gondal.
“They will help the forest department employees carry out patrolling in forest areas of Junagadh, Amreli, and in sensitive revenue areas such as Babra Virdi and other places where any illegal activity might occur,” said a senior forest department officer.
The lion population according to the official 2020 census was 674.
About 380 of these lions are outside the protected sanctuary area and live close to human habitations in Amreli, Junagadh, Gir-Somnath, and Bhavnagar.
Aradhana Sahu, the chief conservator of forests (wildlife circle), Junagadh, confirmed the development and said that the SRP teams will be posted mainly in revenue areas.
Forest guards went on an indefinite strike from September 6. Van Rakshaks (Class-3) and Van Paals want their pending demands met. “We work deep inside forests and are away from our families,” said a protesting forest guard requesting anonymity. “We hope that the government pays attention to our demands and brings about a positive resolution. We will return to work only after our demands for grade pay and leave pay are met by the government.”
The employees are demanding a grade pay of Rs 2,800 and want to be considered for promotions through regular departmental examinations. The guards have put forward 14 demands in all.