BBMP Wildlife Rescuers Brave Life-Threatening Tasks for ₹18,000 Pay

Quick summary

• The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has not revised the honorarium for wildlife rescuers empaneled with its forest wing in seven years, despite yearly requests from the rescuers.
• Of the 11 rescuers recognized by BBMP in 2008, seven remain while four have withdrawn.Their honorarium increased from ₹5,000 initially to ₹12,000 in 2012 and ₹18,000 in 2018.
• A proposal to increase the honorarium is stalled at the administrative level due to low prioritization of wildlife rescue work by BBMP officials.
• Rescuers argue they handle round-the-clock human-wildlife conflicts but face inadequate support such as lack of equipment and rising fuel costs. They also report high-risk rescues involving venomous snakes like Russell’s viper and common krait without safety gear provided by BBMP.
• Between April and june this year, BBMP data recorded 325 wildlife rescue complaints: 297 snake rescues, 23 bird rescues, and 17 monkey operations-all conducted without injuries reported during official operations.
• Cumbersome documentation processes lead many rescuers to under-report their work which includes GPS-tagged photos for verification.
• Wildlife activist Joseph Hoover advocates increasing honorariums as private rescuers typically charge individuals between ₹2,000-₹5,000 per operation compared to free calls handled by BBMP’s team.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The lack of revision in honorariums for Bengaluru’s wildlife rescuers reveals a gap between civic priorities and urgent realities associated with urban human-wildlife interactions. These professionals mitigate risks inherent in densely populated urban environments while addressing significant-and often dangerous-tasks related to public safety during escalating encounters with venomous species like cobras or kraits.

The fact that some tools or financial avenues are lacking underscores potential oversights on resource allocation that coudl directly improve operational efficiency or personal protection for these workers performing critical ecological duties.Stalled administrative efforts signal systemic inertia that risks disincentivizing highly skilled personnel already stretched thin financially.

recognizing their input through equitable remuneration may set vital standards not only for public welfare but also serve broader motives ensuring coexistence policies amidst India’s rapid urbanization demands ahead

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