GUWAHATI, May 22 - The Forest Department is found to be fumbling on the issue of providing insurance coverage to the forest guards engaged in Kaziranga National Park (KNP).
The Department has also maintained silence over the issue of preparation of a management plan for the National Park for the subsequent period beyond 2012-13. These information came to the fore following two RTI applications filed by RTI-cum-environment activist Rohit Choudhury with the Forest Department.
Moreover, in its reply to Choudhury�s another RTI application, the Office of the Divisional Forest Officer, Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, Bokakhat, with reference to the arms training being provided to the forest guards, stated that around 131 boatmen, mahuts, game watchers and drivers are posted as frontline staff in the KNP.
It further stated that only 123 Forest Guards and Forester-I posted in KNP have been imparted theoretical and practical training on the use of arms and ammunition. However, the reply is misleading on the number of times the training was organised by the Kaziranga National Park authorities, alleged Choudhury.
It needs mention here that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in its Performance Audit of Kaziranga National Park � Issues and Challenges (Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Government of Assam, Report No. 3 of 2014) observed that (Para 9.8.3) besides, for insuring the lives of the wildlife guards serving as frontline staff in the anti-poaching camps, there is only an insurance scheme of Rs 1 lakh arranged in association with a non-Government organisation (NGO) which was felt to be insufficient.
In paragraph 9.9.1, the CAG report stated � �Thus, despite extreme working conditions filled with life threats from poachers as well as wild animals, there is little security of the families of the wildlife guards in case of any mishap leading to their death or permanent disability.�
Significantly (para 9.9.2), in reply, the Department stated that the arrangement with the NGO for insurance coverage was an ad-hoc system and a committee had been formed to look into insuring the lives of the wildlife guards. The committee has firmed up a proposal for insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh per personnel. The scheme will be finalised and implemented shortly.
But when Rohit Choudhury asked the Forest Department to state what has happened to the above scheme, he was told by the office of the Divisional Forest Officer, Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, Bokakhat, that insurance coverage of Rs 2 lakh is provided.
On the issue of composition of the committee as referred to above, no information on the composition of the committee has been provided.
Thirdly, it has been informed that a proposal of Rs 5 lakh has been made, even though no date of the proposal and other correspondence to justify the delay has been provided. The reply states ��There is a proposal of Rs 5,00,000.00 (Rs five lakh) only to provide insurance coverage to the staff of KTR (Kaziranga Tiger Reserve) which is yet to be finalised by the Government.�
