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Recognition for tiger conservation group

NIGHT TREKS: Members of the Periyar Tiger Samrakshana Eco-Development Committee taking tourists on a jungle patrol.

While receiving the Sarvothama award from the Chief Minister for the best eco-development committee in the State last week, the days of misery and the struggle for survival might have rushed through the mind of T.K. Babukutty.

It was a battle that he and his fellowmen at Periyar Tiger Samrakshana Eco-Development Committee (PETS - EDC) fought without much hope of winning.

Standing guard for the forest and wildlife resources is no mean job. In fact, it is a demanding one. One may even have to pay with his life. Yet, they stood like the mighty mountains and guarded the treasures of the forest even during the days when they were grossly underpaid. Because, they never had a life outside the forest; it was part of their life.

PETS - EDC was adjudged as the best EDC in the State and Mr. Babukutty received the honour from Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, who had extensively campaigned for protecting the forest resources of the State.

Nearly half of the 66-member-strong team of PETS belong to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and live in the tribal settlement of Mannakudy and Paliyakudy. The EDC members were earlier engaged as the forest watchers for many years and were paid for just 12 days when they had to really toil it out for a month. "Even now the State Government is paying the wages of just 12 days. But now the EDC pays its members the salary for the rest of the month," Mr. Babukutty said.

"They know the forest like the back of their hands. Their commitment towards conservation is not by design, default or destiny... But it is their way of life," remarks one of the Forest officials of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The EDC members also manage jungle patrol, which involves trekking through forest routes in Sakundalakadu and Kokkara areas. Tourists will be taken along with the EDC members who go for jungle patrolling during night.

K.S. Sudhi

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