On my 40th birthday on December 9th, and for the next 40 days, I will be donating one lakh every day thereby committing a total amount of 40 lakhs to help support the bereaved families of India’s ‘Guardians of the Wild’ who lost their lives to Covid-19 while protecting our natural heritage. Since this cause is extremely dear to me, I would also like to make a humble request to all those who may wish to send me flowers or gifts to make a donation to WTI instead, to help our VanRakshaks. There could be no better birthday gift than do something special for our Forest Rangers.
 
I hope that you all will contribute alongside me to the best of your abilities as we seek to maximise our collective impact!
 
Our guardians of the wild, our van rakshaks risk their lives in service to nature. In their line of duty, they often fall to accidents in the toughest of terrain, inclement weather, attacks by wild animals or poachers. 

When the second wave of COVID-19 tore through the country leading to nationwide lockdowns, these men and women were out patrolling our country’s forests on foot. Between March and June 2021, when most of us stayed at home, India lost more than 500 of these conservation heroes to Covid-19!

 
Most of them were young, between 30 and 50 years of age, and had committed their lifetime to preserving India's wildlife. The sudden demise of so many young, committed people is not only heart-wrenching, but a blow to nature conservation. The least we can do now is to recognize their service and stand in support of the young families they leave behind, who have suffered the biggest blow.

Wildlife Trust of India’s (WTI) Conservation Heroes Covid Casualty Fund provides an ex-gratia of INR 100,000/- and a scroll of honour to the next of kin of the fallen heroes.
Under the scheme, WTI received ex-gratia requests for over 215 Covid casualties from the wildlife sector across India. Of these, 135 requests have already been processed by WTI, and the next of kin of our fallen heroes have received a scroll of honour and a cheque of INR 1,00,000/- in official handover ceremonies. But we still have 80 pending requests!

 
As the ambassador of WTI, as a staunch supporter of our frontline forest staff and conservation heroes and heroines, I wholeheartedly back this fund and I appeal to you to join me and donate for the cause. Our target is to raise the remaining amount to cover all 80 families and your contribution can bring us closer to our goal. Thank you for standing with us – for families of our Van Rakshaks, the unsung heroes.

Dia Mirza
(UNEP Goodwill Ambassador, United Nations SDGs Advocate, Ambassador - Wildlife Trust of India)