Port Blair, May 27: The Kesaria Hindu Vahini Trust has requested the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration to consider the staffs of the Forest Department may as Frontline Workers during the pandemic crisis.
In a letter addressed to the CS the President, KHV Diptendu Das Gupta mentioned that while every Govt. institution is playing a vital role in keeping Islands and Islanders safe, the Department of Environment and Forest has also been working hard let it be pandemic, poaching, cyclone, elections or census duty.
The Forest Department is always ready for their service in difficult terrain and situations. The forest department also remained active during the lockdowns, when the entire country came to a stand-still. It proactively shouldered the additional responsibility of helping forest- based communities during this time of crisis, while continuing their mandated responsibility of saving the country’s forest from threats like illicit felling and forest fires; and protecting Islands biodiversity from wildlife criminals.
While responding to their call of duty, many staffs of the Forest Department unfortunately contracted the virus. These employees are involved in protection of nation’s ecological wealth. It’s very unfortunate that these employees are deprived of preferred healthcare attention when required the most and chance of early vaccination since they are not noted as Frontline Workers, wrote the President, KHV Diptendu Das Gupta.