Uniform Distribution – 1
Casual watchers are employed by many forest departments to take up a number of tasks especially to ward off conflict situations and poaching in the human population adjoining reserve forests and sanctuaries. They earn an average salary of around Rs.800/- per month ($16!!). Frequently they are employed and paid for by the Forest rangers out of their own pockets. The pay is hardly enough to sustain a single person let alone a family.
These foot soldiers drawn from local inhabitants are the first line of defense against poaching. Poorly clad and armed only with firecrackers and torches, they confront elephants and drive them back into the jungles. Their pitiable condition is a cause of poor motivation and general dissatisfaction. They are also unable to command the respect of the local people; distrust and antipathy is the prevailing mood.
KANS organised the donation of complete uniform kit including camouflage clothing, warm sweaters, shoes, socks, monkey caps, belts etc for 50 casual watchers in the Hosur Forest Division. This forest division is considered to be the “Gateway to Tamilnadu” for Elephants of the region. Another 20 watchers have been identified who will benefit from this project.
This project was funded by Hosur Round Table 87, Hosur Ladies Circle 32 and a number of KANS members and well wishers.
These uniform kits will at least provide some comfort and safety to the watchers in carrying out their duties. More importantly it is a token of appreciation and should serve to motivate the watchers. However more needs to be done on this front and the initiative should come from the concerned governments.
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