Mysuru/Chamarajanagar: Hundreds of outsourced workers attached to the Karnataka State Forest Department Wildlife Divisions Daily Wage/Outsourced Employees Association Thursday began an indefinite protest in Chamarajanagar, demanding that the govt end the outsourcing system and restore direct employment through forest department.The protest is being held on the reception premises of Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Melukamanahalli, Gundlupet taluk. Association leaders said the stir was launched after the govt failed to act on assurances given during an earlier protest in Nov 2025.Association working president AM Nagaraj told TOI that more than 1,000 workers participated in Thursday’s protest and that the turnout was expected to increase on Friday.Nagaraj said the workers would continue the strike until they received a written assurance from the government. He accused the authorities of making promises without taking concrete action.He said that until 2017, temporary workers were paid directly by forest department and received benefits through the department. After the system was changed, salaries were routed through private agencies selected through tenders, leading to irregular payments and difficulty in accessing benefits. Rolling back outsourcing remains their main demand.According to the association, outsourced workers perform duties similar to those of permanent govt staff and play a key role in forest and wildlife protection. Nagaraj said they would continue the protest indefinitely until their demands are accepted.
