The Defence Labour Procurement Department (DLPD) also assists Defence Forces in raising of porter companies. With the passage of time, DLPD has switched over to digital payments through the verified bank account of the porters/pony owner’s @digital transfer and acts as interface/buffer between Army and civilian population. The directions by way of Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) Vide ID No. 05035/OL-1(PC) Dated 14-12-2017 from Ministry Of Defence, Government of India for Procurement of porters and pack animals by the Defence Forces through DLPD in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Army Units/Formations at gross root level use services of the DLPD extensively for maintaining harmonious Civil-Military relations and in generating employment for the community of pony owners, porters and Labour class. This is corroborated by the Employment figures of the last ten years of both the UT’s of J&K and Ladakh as under:
| Sr. No. |
Financial Year |
Total No. of Porter Days |
Total No. of Pony Days |
1 |
2011-12 |
5576688 |
2558377
|
2 |
2012-13 |
3914813 |
1392112
|
3 |
2013-14 |
3533327 |
1356456
|
4 |
2014-15 |
3632337 |
1435746
|
5 |
2015-16 |
3781665 |
1639355
|
6 |
2016-17 |
3716401 |
1599413
|
7 |
2017-18 |
3682278 |
1533787
|
8 |
2018-19 |
3378770 |
1144495
|
9 |
2019-20 |
2459694 |
828375
|
10 |
2020-21 |
3200302 |
1053677
|
11 |
2021-22 |
3550141 |
1187285
|
12 |
2022-23 |
3678575 |
1245388
|
|
|
|
|