Chennai : In a welcome move, the sanction orders of the hike in consolidated monthly wages for Anti Poaching Watchers (APW) working with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department arrived today.
Chennai : In a welcome move, the sanction orders of the hike in consolidated monthly wages for Anti Poaching Watchers (APW) working with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department arrived today.
According to the new pay scheme announced in the assembly on the 5th of July this year, the 1,119 APWs would be drawing a monthly sum of Rs. 12,500, which is 2,500 higher than their earlier sum.
Notably, the APWs were drawing a monthly sum of Rs. 6,750 around a year ago and sun was increases to Rs. 10,000 after requests and protests.
“The recommendation to increase their pay further was made considering the characteristics of their work,” said a senior official.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) had written to the State to increase the pay and in his letter he had stated that the APWs work 24*7 in tough environment to protect the biodiversity of the State.
“1,119 APWs are being engaged in the Forest Department under various and central and state government schemes in different circles. Tribals living in forest settlements are also engaged as APWs in different jobs such as safeguarding wild animals from poaching and valuable timber species.
Their services are also utilised in patrolling protected areas and they mostly work in inhospitable and difficult terrain,” read the statement of PCCF in the sanction order.
The hike is in effect from the 1st of April, 2019 with an additional financial implication of Rs. 3.357 crore.