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Srinagar, May 1 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir administration has conceded majority of demands of the employees of the State Forest Corporation (SFC), a government undertaking, today.

In a statement here, SFC Employees Union president B A Bhat and general secretary Ajaz Ahmad said the announcements were made by Forest Minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal while addressing the employees on the May day today.

The Minister announced the enhancement of gratuity sealing of to the SFC employees at par with the government officials from the previous sealing of Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 3,50 lakh, they said.

He also announced grant of leave salary of ten months (entitled on retirement) to the SFC employees. Till now, the employees used to get only two-month encashment, the two union office bearers said.

It was also agreed to revise travel allowance rules of the SFC employees at par with other government officials, they said.

The SFC's activities would be diversified with the creation of two divisions of the non-timber forest produce (NTFP), they added.

This would lead to development of the NTFP industry and play a role to motivate the unemployed youth of the state in establishing units of NTFP products, they said.

The union said, to compensate the loss in the state during the past 17 years of turmoil, the government has also entrusted the job of import of timber in Jammu and Kashmir through the SFC to meet the local demand for construction purposes.

This would minimise the pressure on the remaining forests of the state, it added.

However, the union leaders said the long-pending demand of grade promotion to employees was still under consideration and awaiting approval of the Finance department.

The Minister has assured that this demand too would be met very soon, they added.

UNI