When it’s time for him to leave for the forest, Rajkumar (name changed) packs his shoes, a sweater, a sickle, and a stick into a bag and sets off along with co-foot-soldiers Raju and Murugan. The three anti-poaching watchers (APWs) know it will be five days before they return home and will face challenges inside from elephants, bears, and Indian gaur.
However, the state forest department’s decision to outsource temporary staff, including the crucial APWs, has sparked concern among wildlife researchers, conservationists, and nature lovers, raising questions about its impact on forest protection and conservation efforts.
“I was the first in my family to join as an APW in 2019. I thought that after a decade of work I would get a permanent position. Now, with this announcement, my salary, which was ₹12,500, has been cut to ₹10,000,” says Rajkumar, adding that the low wages, long hours, and unsafe working conditions are driving APWs to despair.
The forest department has justified the decision. Several temporary workers filed cases in labour courts and the Madras High Court, often receiving favourable judgments due to procedural lapses by departmental officers. This has compelled the govt to absorb temporary workers into regular service.
APWs, numbering around 1,500 statewide, many of them tribal recruits, act as intermediaries between their communities and the forest department because of their intimate knowledge of the terrain and wildlife. Outsourced APWs lack departmental protections, says Rajkumar. “During multi-day forest patrols, we face risks such as wildlife attacks. But the contract conditions clearly state that the department will not be responsible for attacks or injuries.”
A wildlife official, speaking anonymously, says there are risks associated with outsourcing APWs. “Low wages and job insecurity may push them to share sensitive information about wildlife movements with poachers or even engage in poaching themselves,” says the official. Also, officials say tribal APWs are invaluable for their terrain expertise and may sever ties with the department, weakening conservation networks. “The department will lose traditional knowledge of forests and wildlife,” says the official. Already, the salary of the APWs is not paid on time, which was one of the complaints raised by them.
“Outsourcing APWs is not in practice in any other southern state,” says conservationist T Murugavel. “It’s surprising that TN has opted for this system. Protection of natural resources should not be entrusted to people who are not familiar with the terrain and wildlife.”
The Andhra Pradesh forest department manages recruitment through its agency, ensuring accountability and departmental oversight. In Kerala, recruitment focuses on tribal members and forest fringe residents, with importance given to community engagement in conservation. In Karnataka, APWs are directly recruited by the department and are paid among the highest salaries.
Experts say TN needs to emulate the neighbouring states by establishing a department-run recruitment system to balance job security, community engagement, and effective conservation. Efforts to seek clarification from officials met with limited responses. The state Chief Wildlife Warden redirected inquiries to PCCF (admin) Debasis Jana, who declined to comment. Meanwhile, the pressing issue of ensuring the safety and morale of APWs in the face of outsourcing remains unresolved.
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