WTI releases Rs1 lakh aid for kin of Covid victims from forest dept

Nagpur: At a time when many families are struggling to come to terms after the loss of their near and dear ones due to Covid-19, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), an NGO working for wildlife conservation in and around protected areas (PAs), released an ex-gratia of Rs1 lakh each to next-of-kin of six temporary and permanent staff of forest department who died due to the virus.
“The ex-gratia is being paid to families of Covid-19 deceased staff under the head ‘Conservation Heroes Covid Casualty Fund-2021’ under which a provision of Rs1 lakh has been made. A scroll of honour about their contribution will also be given to the families of the individuals who have passed away due to Covid,” said Vivek Menon, executive director & CEO of WTI.
Of the six Covid victims, three are from Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), Chandrapur, and three from Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) in Gondia and Bhandara districts. The NGO has offered help to even the office staff of the PAs.
From NNTR, families of Naresh Gahane, a clerk, Suresh Lanjewar and Moreshwar Walke, both daily wage labourers, have benefitted. From TATR, families of daily wage workers Pravin Akojwar (45) and Patru Kinnake (59), and forest guard Chandrakant Gajbhe (57) were provided the aid.
“Last month, WTI released Rs1 lakh each to the kin of three forest labourers who were charred to death while extinguishing forest fires inside Nagzira in April. Besides, the family of a deceased daily wager from Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) was also paid an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh. He too had died while dousing forest fires adjoining Nagzira,” said Prafulla Bhamburkar, WTI advisor, Maharashtra.
Bhamburkar said the NGO has released money to kin of over 50 Covid victims in the country.
In Maharashtra, 130 deaths due to Covid-19 have been reported among frontline staff and 20 among 20 clerical staff.