Its been more than ten days since an Anti-Poaching Watcher (APW) working with the Coimbatore Division of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department was injured seriously by a tusker at P.K Pudhur in the District. Yet, there has been no compensation provided by the State Government except the Division office meeting to his treatment expenses.
Karthikeyan, who had his ribs broken and suffered injuries in his head, was shifted to a private hospital in the city after doctors at the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) washed their hands unable to treat him. Though this brings a negative shade on the quality of treatment provided at Government hospitals, the incident had also turned the focus on the safety of APWs who are forced to work with big animals in dangerous situations.
Standing in the last segment of uniformed staff working with the Forest Department, the APWs involve in various works starting from guarding each stretch of the jungle, to driving elephants away from populated areas and reducing poaching or felling of trees inside the forest.
However, astonishingly, they do all this life risking work day in and day out with no proper equipments including flashlights and that too for a meagre sum of Rs. 225 per day, which accounts to the fixed salary of Rs. 6750 per month. This was even lesser at Rs. 4000 before 2013 and was increased only after some APWs with the Tamil Nadu Anti Poaching watchers and other workers Association sent a representation to the State Government asking for a hike.
According to one of the APWs, there are over 2000 men working as APWs with the State Forest Department and only a few get to touch their salary on the first day of the month. The rest get their moneys way late from contractors, sometimes months later.
While they sweat it out inside the forest for a practically poor salary, most of them are unable to leave the profession for lack of safety outside the job. “Some of them get into the job because of the uniform. We take pride in guarding our natural resources. But at the same time, we also develop enmity with locals who involve in illegal activities inside the forest. They always eye for revenge. While we have no insurance being in the job, we have no surety that local may turn against us once we leave the safety of the job,” said an APW.
He further added that if not for them, no in the department would be able to guard the jungle. Yet, claimed that the provisions were still denied for the hard working men. “Those at the next level to us get paid above Rs. 15000 and we do not even get half their salaries despite doing the entire field job. We receive provisions only from NGOs during festivals in the form of rations. But it is sad that the Government is not ready to pay us justifiably for our work,” he told the Simplicity.
Another APW argued that if they decide to go on strike, situation would go worse close to the reserve with elephant problem and naxalite issues running hot in the Western Ghats. “Those in Valparai organised a one day strike as a mark of protest against the low salary. But still our pleas have not been heard,” he pondered.
According to a senior official from the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, a representation has been made to the State Government about the salary. He added that necessary steps would be taken.
Karthikeyan, who had his ribs broken and suffered injuries in his head, was shifted to a private hospital in the city after doctors at the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) washed their hands unable to treat him. Though this brings a negative shade on the quality of treatment provided at Government hospitals, the incident had also turned the focus on the safety of APWs who are forced to work with big animals in dangerous situations.
Standing in the last segment of uniformed staff working with the Forest Department, the APWs involve in various works starting from guarding each stretch of the jungle, to driving elephants away from populated areas and reducing poaching or felling of trees inside the forest.
However, astonishingly, they do all this life risking work day in and day out with no proper equipments including flashlights and that too for a meagre sum of Rs. 225 per day, which accounts to the fixed salary of Rs. 6750 per month. This was even lesser at Rs. 4000 before 2013 and was increased only after some APWs with the Tamil Nadu Anti Poaching watchers and other workers Association sent a representation to the State Government asking for a hike.
According to one of the APWs, there are over 2000 men working as APWs with the State Forest Department and only a few get to touch their salary on the first day of the month. The rest get their moneys way late from contractors, sometimes months later.
While they sweat it out inside the forest for a practically poor salary, most of them are unable to leave the profession for lack of safety outside the job. “Some of them get into the job because of the uniform. We take pride in guarding our natural resources. But at the same time, we also develop enmity with locals who involve in illegal activities inside the forest. They always eye for revenge. While we have no insurance being in the job, we have no surety that local may turn against us once we leave the safety of the job,” said an APW.
He further added that if not for them, no in the department would be able to guard the jungle. Yet, claimed that the provisions were still denied for the hard working men. “Those at the next level to us get paid above Rs. 15000 and we do not even get half their salaries despite doing the entire field job. We receive provisions only from NGOs during festivals in the form of rations. But it is sad that the Government is not ready to pay us justifiably for our work,” he told the Simplicity.
Another APW argued that if they decide to go on strike, situation would go worse close to the reserve with elephant problem and naxalite issues running hot in the Western Ghats. “Those in Valparai organised a one day strike as a mark of protest against the low salary. But still our pleas have not been heard,” he pondered.
According to a senior official from the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, a representation has been made to the State Government about the salary. He added that necessary steps would be taken.