Telangana is now one of the few states in the country to offer preferential treatment to forest workers.
Published Date – Tue, 04/04/23 at 01:30pm
Hyderabad: Given the challenges and threats faced by forestry department officials, the state government has announced special privileges for staff killed or injured in extremist attacks on par with police officers.
To this end, GOM No. 43 has been issued by Principal Secretary A Santhi Kumari. Telangana is now one of the few states in the country to offer preferential treatment to forest workers.
Last year, Bhadradri Kothagudem Forest Range officer Srinivas Rao was attacked and brutally murdered by members of the Gutti Koyas tribe.
Chief Forest Conservation Officer RM Dobriyal has since briefed the government on the challenges faced by the Stagg department in fulfilling its mandate, especially in rural areas.
Many times, forestry personnel have to patrol and protect inland forest areas alone. In such situations, forest workers are vulnerable to anti-social elements and do not have immediate access to help, he explained.
Taking into account the appeal of the PCCF, the state government has ordered ex-gratia payments to forest workers who were killed or injured in attacks by extremists and anti-social elements.
Therefore, according to the designation, forest workers will receive special benefits. If a forest battering officer or an officer of equivalent rank is killed in an extremist attack, then they will be paid Rs 30 lakh in compensation. They will be paid Rs 2 lakh in case of permanent incapacity and Rs 3 lakh in case of serious injury.
