Financial Crisis for Wildlife Protectors in Jharkhand
In a distressing development for wildlife conservation efforts in Jharkhand, approximately 300 trackers deployed at the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) and Mahudanr Wolf Sanctuary have not received their wages for more than six months. This prolonged delay in payment is severely impacting the livelihoods of these frontline workers who play a crucial role in protecting endangered species.
Wage Delays Spanning Over a Year
According to sources within the forest department, the situation is particularly dire for trackers stationed at the Mahudanr Wolf Sanctuary. These employees have not been paid their monthly wages since April of last year, marking over a year of financial neglect. On the other hand, trackers working in the north and south divisions of the Palamu Tiger Reserve have been going without wages since October last year, adding to the growing crisis.
Union Leader Confirms Widespread Hardship
Sidhinath Jha, the president of the Jharkhand Van Shramik Union, officially confirmed this alarming situation on Thursday. He expressed deep concern over the trackers' plight, stating, "It is becoming extremely difficult for these trackers to run their households and meet basic needs due to the non-payment of wages." Jha placed the blame squarely on the PTR management for the ongoing delay, highlighting a lack of effective resolution.
Jha further revealed that union representatives had escalated the matter to higher authorities in an attempt to seek redress. "We also met with the principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) cum chief wildlife warden, Ravi Ranjan, to apprise him of our severe woes, but unfortunately, our efforts have yielded no positive results so far," he lamented.
Official Response Cites Funding and Technical Issues
In response to the growing outcry, Kumar Ashish, the deputy director of PTR (South), acknowledged the problem and provided some insight into the underlying causes. He explained, "We are currently facing significant funds issues, compounded by bottlenecks in the digital payment systems that are intended to facilitate these transactions." Despite these challenges, Ashish assured that efforts are actively underway to resolve the payment delays and ensure that the trackers receive their due wages as soon as possible.
The prolonged non-payment of wages to these essential wildlife trackers not only threatens their personal well-being but also poses a risk to conservation activities in the region. As the situation continues, there is an urgent call for immediate action to address both the financial and systemic issues hindering timely compensation for these dedicated workers.
