Lok Sabha Question No. 5257 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Regularisation of Long-Term Contractual Workers
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Dr. Bachhav Shobha Dinesh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5257

(ANSWERED ON 02.04.2025)

## REGULARISATION OF LONG-TERM CONTRACTUAL WORKERS

## 5257. DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of tragic case of Shri Rajendra Salunkhe, a forest department worker in Nashik, who self-immolated on January 31st due to alleged job insecurity and neglect;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  along  with  the  immediate  financial  and  medical  aid  provided  to  his  family following his demise;
- (c)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  regularize  long-term  contractual  workers  in  forest department to prevent such incidents in the future;
- (d) if not, the details of the steps proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard;
- (e) whether the Government has instituted an enquiry to review the issue of the administrative lapses that led to this tragedy and if so, details thereof, including findings of the investigation, and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (f) whether there are any plans to establish a structured grievance redressal mechanism and mental health support system for forest department employees; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (e): Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) have informed that they have  no  comments  to  provide  in  the  matter  as  the  issues  pertaining  to  employees  of  forest establishment of State Governments are not dealt with by the MoEFCC.

Further, as per the guidelines issued by the  Ministry  of  Labour  and  Employment, Government  of  India,  Contract  Labour  (Regulation  and  Abolition)  Act,  1970  do  not  contain  any provision for regularization of contract labourers or for granting them permanent status.

(f) and (g): To address the burden of mental disorders, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is implementing  the National Mental Health Programme  (NMHP) in the country  under  which    767  districts  were  sanctioned    for  District  Mental  Health  Programme (DMHP) to provide facilities at the Community Health Centre (CHC) and Primary Health Centre (PHC)  levels,  inter-alia,  include  outpatient  services,  assessment,  counselling/  psycho-social interventions,  continuing  care  and  support  to  persons  with  severe  mental  disorders,  drugs, outreach services, ambulance services etc. One of the objectives of DMHP is to provide suicide prevention services, work place stress management, life skills training and counselling in schools and colleges. In addition to the above, the Government is also taking steps to strengthen mental

healthcare services at  primary  healthcare  level. Mental health services  have been added in the package  of  services  under  Comprehensive  Primary  Health  Care  provided  at  these  Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.

Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare,  Government  of  India  has  also  formulated  the country's first National Suicide Prevention Strategy. The details of the Strategy are available on the website of the Ministry.

(https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/National%20Suicide%20Prevention%20Strategy.pdf).

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