Malkangiri: The divisional forest officer (DFO) in Jeypore of Koraput district has suspended a forester and a woman forest guard with immediate effect until further orders for allegedly demanding and collecting Rs 3.20 lakh as bribe for payment of Rs 2 lakh exgratia each to kin of eight deceased kendu leaf workers. The suspended forest officials have been identified as Balimela forester Durga Prasad Nayak and a woman forest guard Padmini Patnaik of Kudmulguma under Gumma forest beat of Jeypore kendu leaf forest division in Koraput district. The two illegally demanded bribes from the innocent tribal people to provide them the ex-gratia amount. The matter came to the fore after the DFO issued two letters – 78 and 79 dated March 10, 2023 in this regard.
Ex-gratia is provided to kendu leaf workers in case of death or permanent disability. Reports said that eight kendu leaf workers Ramahari Dora, Budri Dola, Lachhman Badnaik, Mohan Singh, Pari Hantal, Brunda Pangi, Ram Khamar, and Samari Pangi died following which the kendu leaf department sanctioned Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia each to their surviving family members. The woman forest guard visited the houses of the deceased kendu leaf workers for payment of ex-gratia. There she forcibly demanded Rs 40,000 each from the eight families totaling Rs 3.20 lakh informing them that she will have to pay it as a bribe to the senior authorities.
On being informed, a social activist Sarat Buruda informed DFO Prafulla Mandal of Jeypore kendu leaf division and demanded an inquiry. In the first phase, the woman’s forest guard was suspended after she was proven guilty of her involvement. Forester Durga Prasad Nayak was also suspended after he was found involved in the wrongdoing. Activist Buruda has also demanded payback of the collected bribe amount to the bereaved family members. The DFO has thanked the social activist for highlighting the wrongdoing by engaging officials from other districts.
Based on a complaint, the DFO conducted a probe and placed the two under suspension after a video of the lady forest guard cheating the tribals went viral. Locals alleged that this is just the tip of the iceberg and welfare funds and ex-gratia of kendu leaf workers are being rampantly misappropriated in other parts of the district. The social activist has demanded a high-level inquiry to unravel similar misappropriation of welfare funds and ex-gratia in other parts of the district.
Meanwhile, the Nabarangpur kendu leaf division has been directed to conduct further probes into the involvement of more officials in this connection.