Jaldapara (Alipurduar), Aug. 3: For the first time in the history of wildlife protection in West Bengal, the kin of two forest staff members killed in harness have received Rs 1 lakh each from the Wild Life Trust of India (WTI).

Nandalal Tirki was a ban majdoor in the CC line beat of Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. On January 23, he was killed by a tusker on his way back from work. Rajkumar Oraon was a contract labour in the Kunjanagar beat of the sanctuary. On May 27 he was carrying grass on the back of Ashoke (a departmental elephant).

The elephant suddenly went berserk, dropped him from his back and trampled him. While the forest department gave Rs 30,000 to Nandalal?s family, Rajkumar?s kin got nothing as he was a contract labourer.

Last wife, the Wildlife Trust Of India took an initiative to insure the staff (including the contract labourers) working in sanctuaries and national parks throughout the country. At the beginning of this year, they listed 150 staff members of Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. The WTI pays a yearly premium of Rs 30 for each worker and they are insured for a sum of Rs 1 lakh, which will be given to the families if the labourers die in harness.

At a small programme in Jaldapara today, the chief conservator of forest (wildlife) govt. of west bengal, Ujjwal Bhattacharjee, handed over two cheques to Manika Oraon and Shaniaro Tirki, the wives of the deceased.

After the programme Bhattacharjee praised the efforts of WTI and said the money would also be given to those killed by poachers. He also announced that one member of the family of a permanent staff who died on duty would get a job.