Mandya: The forest guards are the ones who patrol in the deep forests, dousing forest fires, catching wild-animal poachers and wood smugglers. Working for a meagre salary, their efforts go unnoticed often. Here is a Bengaluru-based group called Cricketers For Tiger Conservation (CFTC) which has recognised one of the forest guards for his exemplary work.
 
CFTC’s Tiger award with a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh for the year 2016 has been conferred on Pramod G.S., of BRT Tiger Reserve. Indian cricketer Stuart Binny felicitated Pramod in a ceremony held on Sunday at Chinnaswamy stadium.

Pramod hails from Mandya and has completed his masters in Political Science from Mysore University. Speaking on the occasion The Hindu quoted, Pramod, saying, “I have been working for five years at BRT wildlife sanctuary. I helped catch poachers and prevent illegal cutting of trees, and for this I was given the award.”

Joseph Hoover of CFTC, organiser of the award ceremony said, “We honour forest guards and watchers as they are the ones who protect our forests. They have hardly anything to live upon, and earn very meagre salaries. We thought we should motivate them as it will help in conserving wildlife.”

Former cricketer Sandeep Patil founded Cricketers For Tiger Conservation and over 247 international cricketers are members of the group. The group also spreads awareness on tiger conservation with more than 3000 children working as tiger ambassadors.