MYSURU: There is someone in the forest risking life and limb, guarding the forest almost 24/7 with no proper meal, no proper equipment, and is paid a pittance. These brave, unsung heroes are the first line of defence in case of a fire. The job of a forest guard includes long working hours, and he is often forced to leave behind his family.
The death of a forest guard two days ago while dousing the fire in Bandipur forest brings their plight back into sharp focus.
In Bandipur and Nagarhole national forests, which house the largest number of tigers in the country, there is a severe shortage of forest guards. The state government has not carried out recruitments regularly and the reluctance of guards working in other forest regions to accept a transfer to these wildlife sanctuaries has only added to the staff crunch.
This situation has, however, put immense pressure on forest guards in these national forests. They are often forced to handle two beats, instead of one.
The major grouse of these foot soldiers is that they are not allowed to take leave on a regular basis. Guards are entitled to 45 days leave in a year, but a majority of them don’t even take half of it. Though they do get paid for surrendering their leaves, most guards say that money can’t match the need for a break from work.
A forest guard from North Karnataka says he is allowed to take just two days leave in a month. “It takes me more than 12 hours to reach home. There’s not enough time left to spend with my family.”
Another problem is that a majority of Anti-Poaching Camps (APC) where guards are stationed is out of cellphone coverage. “We can’t contact our families for days. This leads to depression at times. It’s a dog’s life,” says another guard who has been waiting for a transfer to North Karnataka region.
Only a few forest guards have the luxury of living with their families in official quarters.
Sources add that guards and watchers don’t get practical training on firefighting during the year-long training before joining the department, making it even more tough when faced with a wildfire.
Guards also complained that the traditional method of dousing fire by beating the flames with wild plants puts them at risk. “Where will we find plants to douse the fire when the entire forest is dry? Why can’t the authorities upgrade facilities when technology has advanced so much,” asks another guard.
Between January and May, forest guards are rarely allowed to leave from work, with instances of senior officials warning them that they will be held responsible for fire incidents in their beats.
A forest guard’s salary ranges between `16,000 and `20,000 per month. “We are on duty 24 hours and we are paid peanuts. Guards in Bandipur and Nagarhole forests get an allowance of just `700 per month. This is not enough to motivate us to continue with our jobs,” says a guard.