The study — 'Assessing Work Motivation of Forest Guards' was carried out by a research team from the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT), which for almost a decade has been working for improving the conditions of frontline forest staff across India.
A first-of-its-kind study on forest guards from four different protected areas in Maharashtra has suggested an urgent need for periodic monitoring of their mental health as well as 'effort-based' financial incentives, apart from listing out a slew of recommendations to motivate the frontline staff, which plays the most crucial role of protecting forest and wildlife.
The study — 'Assessing Work Motivation of Forest Guards' was carried out by a research team from the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT), which for almost a decade has been working for improving the conditions of frontline forest staff across India. "The role of the forest guards is no less than the foot soldiers of our defence forces. A forest guard protects our forests and river systems — despite living in isolated, hostile and often inhabitable conditions. Unfortunately, they don't get salaries even remotely comparable to the role they play. Their families too enjoy no special benefits," said Anish Andheria, President of Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT).
He added that the whole point of this study, which is being carried out in other States as well, was to focus on the quality of life and mental health of the forest guards and make a strong case, through scientifically collected data, about the need for the State and Central Government to conduct programmes to motivate these unsung heroes.
According to Andheria, the forest guards working in remote forested areas show varying degrees of demotivation and frustration, which eventually takes a toll on their efficiency in the field. Hence, these aspects need to be addressed on a war footing.
"Our study suggests that an institutional mechanism needs to be put in place for periodic monitoring of their mental health, which may include availability of easily accessible medical facilities as well as counselling," he shared adding that just like corporates train their senior staff in managing their workforce, it was also very important that human resource management training was provided to senior forest staff such as Range Forest Officers (RFO) and Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) for effectively managing the forest guards.
Speaking on conditions of anonymity a forest guard working in a tiger reserve in Maharashtra said that despite being the first line of defence in the wild they were extremely overworked, underpaid and poorly-equipped to even safeguard themselves. "Most of our colleagues have become habituated to addictive including locally brewed alcohol, which has serious implication on their health and many continuously talk about being frustrated, which affects their mental health. We are always scared for our families in case we end up being killed by a wild animal or a poacher as there is no scheme to help them," he said.
Maharashtra State Chief Wildlife Warden, Nitin Kakodkar said that he has gone through the study submitted by WCT and he was also personally concerned over the well being of forest guards. "We soon plan on taking adequate and required steps for addressing all the concerns raised in the study," he said.
Key Recommendations
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| Eliminating perceived disparities in pay can enhance a sense of achievement this can be done by a special tiger reserve allowance for field staff |
| It is critical that human resource management training is provided to Range Forest Officers (RFO) and Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) to help manage forest guards |
| Clean water, equipment charging facility and basic amenities must be available at the anti-poaching camps |
| The current education criteria of HSC for forest guard recruitment should be retained and should not be lowered |
| Effort based financial incentives for the forest guards. Government should institute of special wildlife allowance at least in tiger reserves |
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