HELP WILD INDIA
Protect India’s Van Rakshaks
Twenty-four-year old Forest Guard Deepu Singh Rana fell to a bullet from a poacher during the Covid-19 induced lockdown in May.. Six forest watchers died in a landslide in Kerala in August and four others in other parts of the country in accidents and animal attacks. Forest staff fatalities have crossed a dozen this year.
India’s Van Rakshaks walk harsh terrain in inclement weather, encounter poachers, timber mafia, and wild animals. All this with outdated equipment, lack of emergency medical care, and weak safety systems. Only their steely resolve and commitment to protecting our natural resources keep these men and women going.
India’s frontline forest staff are the unsung heroes – the ‘police and defence forces’ of Wild India.
Devoid of benefits that our police and defence services get, when a Van Rakshak faces death or disability on duty, their family faces immense hardships. At critical times when they need finances the most, these families have to deal with the paperwork to claim insurance.
Twenty years ago, Wildlife Trust of India pioneered a Supplementary Accident Assurance Scheme for India’s Van Rakshaks that provides immediate ex-gratia to families of deceased or financial relief to the injured without delay. We have disbursed 201 ex-gratia claims to date, making it our longest-running and most critical project, considering the increased perils our frontline forest staff face in the line of duty. An amount of INR 100,000/- to the next of kin of the deceased helps tide over immediate expenses in the interim.
World Ranger Day on 31 July is dedicated to the guardians of the wild. 11 September is commemorated as Forest Martyrs Day. Join us to thank those who guard our Natural Heritage putting their lives at risk. You can help them by supporting our work to keep them motivated to serve India’s wilds.
WTI disbursed 21 claims for death and disability in 2019-2020 and have already disbursed 11 ex–gratia claims up to September 2020. We shall not let the current economic crisis affect our commitment to India’s forest guards and here’s where you can help top up our fund for forest guards. Give generously so that their families get money when they need it most.