Forest workers gratuity payments

On 11th September, the Forest Group wrote to the FO FAMC and FO BCC requesting that they fulfil financial obligations to fifty forest workers, some of whom have worked in Auroville forests for over forty years. Since these groups stopped financial support of forest workers, many may have to be laid off, gratuity payments amounting to over 41.5 lakhs are owed, as well as one month pay in lieu of notice, which amounts to a further 5 lakhs. The Forest Group wrote “The employees have been informed of the situation and these employees now require that their gratuity is paid by the BCC, from the "Gratuity AV services" account, according to the precedence of the last 15 years. It is also only felt fair that since no notice of termination of employment was issued by yourselves, then a month’s wage in lieu of notice should be paid”. The AVFO groups have not yet replied, but had previously indicated that no gratuity payments would be given to the forest workers.