J&K Forest Officer Dies in Action Amid Zero Risk Allowance and No Proper Protection

J&K — In a tragic incident that has once again highlighted the dangers faced by frontline forest personnel in Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Gh. Mohd Shah, son of Mohd Maqbool Shah, a resident of Changoo Veerinag, lost his life while battling a forest fire in Compartment 48/V, Hangipora Beat, Hangipora Block, under the Anantnag Forest Division.

Shah, who was serving as an MTS (Orderly) and awaiting his next promotion as a Forest Guard, was participating in a firefighting operation in the Verinag Range when the tragedy occurred. Colleagues describe him as a dedicated, disciplined and courageous official whose unwavering commitment to forest protection remained evident until his final moments.

His demise has sent shockwaves across the forest department and local community, sparking renewed concerns over the severe occupational hazards faced by territorial forest staff who safeguard Jammu & Kashmir’s ecological assets round the clock.

A Sacrifice Reflecting a Larger Crisis

Forest field staff—ranging from MTS and watchers to forest guards and block officers—regularly face threats of forest fires, wild animals, timber smugglers, hostile terrain, and extreme weather conditions. Despite this, territorial forest personnel are reportedly not provided with risk allowance, nor do they receive the 2.5-day salary benefit, Sundays, or several service protections granted to police and other uniformed forces.

Officials say the tragedy underscores the persistent mismatch between the high-risk nature of their work and the limited institutional support they receive. In this case, too, Shah reportedly had no protective gear, no wildlife protection equipment, and only basic firefighting tools while combating the flames.

Forest Protection Force Benefits Fuel Resentment

The tragedy has also intensified long-standing frustration over disparities between the territorial forest staff and the Forest Protection Force (FPF).Although the FPF was established as a trained, armed protection wing specifically designed to respond to forest threats, many frontline workers claim that the FPF remains largely inactive on the ground, with its visibility limited mainly to official paperwork.

Despite this limited field presence, the FPF continues to receive allowances meant for a full-time, high-risk field force — including ration money and the 2.5-days additional salary allowance.

In stark contrast, the territorial forest staff — who remain in the forests 24×7, responding to fires, wildlife emergencies, and illegal activities — receive neither ration money nor the 2.5-day allowance, leaving them financially disadvantaged despite their direct exposure to danger.

The Nature of Forest Duty: Undefined and Exhausting

Many staff members also point to the absence of a clearly defined duty roster. Unlike other uniformed services, territorial forest workers say they must remain available around the clock, often responding to calls from superiors at any hour, day or night. They report that duty schedules depend entirely on the whims of officers, resulting in unpredictable hours and virtually no social or family life.

This lack of structured duty hours has reportedly eroded morale and added to the already intense physical and psychological stress of field operations.

Growing Calls for Government Action

Shah’s passing has intensified calls for policy reforms. Several voices within the department and civil society argue that forest personnel deserve:

Risk Allowance, comparable to other field-based uniformed forces

2.5-day salary benefit and ration money for round-the-clock readiness

A clear and humane duty schedule

Proper firefighting and wildlife-protection equipment

Functional deployment of the Forest Protection Force in real field operations

They emphasize that with rising climate-related challenges — especially forest fires — forest personnel are becoming frontline defenders of the Union Territory’s ecological heritage. Their protection and welfare, advocates say, must become a government priority

A Life Remembered

As the department mourns the loss of Gh. Mohd Shah, colleagues remember him as a sincere and courageous officer who served the forests of Anantnag with pride. His sacrifice, they believe, should serve as a reminder of the hidden heroes working silently in remote terrains to protect the natural wealth of Jammu & Kashmir.

Shah’s death, while tragic, has opened an urgent conversation — one that many hope will bring long overdue reforms to safeguard the people who safeguard the forests