Plight of unpaid frontline staff of K'taka forest dept come to fore amid tiger deaths

Bengaluru: The tragic death of five tigers has brought the irregularities in payments to frontline staffers to the fore once again.

The front staffers --- forest watchers and guards  --- are the backbone of conservation work. 

On Monday, 50 forest watchers and guards protested outside the office of the Deputy Conservator of Forests at Malemahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, demanding the release of three months’ salaries. 

These workers, outsourced through private companies, like R C Business Solutions, are not direct employees of the forest department. 

The wildlife activists are blaming the government for the demoralised labour force. 

In the BRT Tiger Reserve, authorities issued a notice to the same agency for failing to deposit statutory benefits, including EPF and ESI, for 122 staff members since September 2024.

A senior forest officer, speaking to DH, explained that the contract for outsourcing labour in the MM Hills division expired in March.

“The department could have invited new bids or extended the existing contract by three months, but neither was done. As a result, over 200 workers went unpaid for months, despite funds being released in April,” the officer said. This led to the protests.

Documents, accessed by DH, reveal that the Assistant Conservator of Forests, Chamarajanagar Wildlife Division, demanded an explanation from R C Business Solutions for non-payment of benefits, including those owed to Nanja, a worker at the Arepalya anti-poaching camp who died while on duty.

Karnataka Rashtra Samiti state secretary Ravikumar S said, “The lack of payment has directly affected the conservation activities. The forest department is responsible for the death of tigers.”

“The police department has been seeking a small space to set up a checkpost in the MM Hills for keeping an eye on the poachers and other illegal activities, though they routinely allow big ticket projects that require felling of thousands of trees,” he said.

Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, in response, said, “I have issued strict instructions to ensure timely payments. I’m unaware of specific complaints, but I will direct officials to blacklist any agency failing to comply with regulations.”

Dead tigers lying for days near anti-poaching camp

The site, where five tigers were found dead in Male Mahadeshwara Hills, is located less than 900 metres from the anti-poaching camp and a little over 100 metres from a tarred road, raising questions about the department’s management of the conservation efforts in the area.

About 135 metres west of the spot is the asphalted road connecting Modahalli and Dinnahalli, in Hanur taluk. “The putrefaction is evident. That means the death must have occurred at least three days prior. What one doesn’t understand is how it can go unnoticed by the department staff, when the anti-poaching camp is so close,” an official said.

“The staffers are outsourced labourers who get about Rs 10,000 and risk their lives. The lack of payment means it is hard to say if anyone was even present in the camp. Only an investigation will show who was responsible for the mess,” sources noted.