Salary woes put tigers in peril in Dandeli-Anshi reserve

It was a matter of pride when the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) ranked Karnataka as the No. 1 state in tiger population in its latest census. But the euphoria was dampened when the NTCA expressed its displeasure over the way the state forest department was utilising the funds allocated to the state for tiger conservation. 

Take the example of Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve (DATR) in Uttara Kannada district, one of the youngest tiger reserves in the country. Identified as a reserve that had the potential to play a major role in tiger conservation, the reserve is now caught in red-tape, financial bungling and low morale of staff working in anti-poaching camps.

The temporary and daily wage labourers working in the DATR, reportedly, have not been paid salary for six months. Senior officials have also been accused of tampering with records – like showing the existence of non-existent anti-poaching camps – to siphon away funds routed to DATR by the NTCA.

The issue of non-payment of salaries is becoming a major hindrance in the anti-poaching efforts at the reserve.

As per orders of the NTCA, payment of salaries to daily wage labourers should be done through account transfer and account payee cheques only and every temporary labourer is entitled to Rs226 per day, which amounts to Rs7,000 per month. In reality, watchers in DATR are paid Rs5000-5500 as monthly salary by cash, say conservationists. It has been alleged that the rest is pocketed by higher officials. In addition, the frequency of payment also varies with each range and depends on the whims and fancies of forest officials.

With salaries paid once in 5-6 months, the labourers are finding it extremely difficult to meet their daily needs, with few looking at alternate forms of livelihood to take care of their families. This could derail anti-poaching efforts in the reserve. 

A labourer, who got his last salary in March, told dna that his family was suffering on account of non-payment of salary. “I could not send my family anything since June as I did not get my salary. My child’s education is also suffering since his fees was not paid. There must be many like me who are suffering due to non-payment of salaries.”

Anti-poaching camps only on paper
Conservationists and activists allege that many anti-poaching camps exist only on paper. The Union ministry of environment and forests released funds for payment of salaries for daily wage staff stationed at Kadagarni, Balemane, Diggi, Kartoli, Phansgali, Ambali, Landa and Digali anti-poaching camps for the year 2013-14. But, shockingly, there are no APCs located in these areas.

The NTCA released money in 2012-13 for construction and maintenance of anti-poaching camp at Gal in Kumbarawada wildlife range. But conservationists allege that the camp has not been operational till date.

The litany of violations and financial wrongdoing at the reserve is not complete without the lackadaisical anti-poaching efforts. Every anti-poaching camp in a tiger reserve should have a minimum of 5 temporary watchers to facilitate stringent implementation of daily patrolling according to the NTCA rules. But in violation of the rule, the camps in DATR have only 3-4 daily wage staff, while, allegedly, the billing for salaries is being done for 5 watchers.

Though the daily wage labourers have been raising their voice against the salary issue, even staging a huge protest in front of the office of the conservator of forests and director, DATR, in Dandeli, in March 2013, the issue of partial payment of salaries still persists, despite the assurance from the then conservator of forests Ashok Basarkod.

When questioned on the salary issue, officials at the DATR blamed it on insufficient funds.