A file photo of a team of Forest Department personnel on a mission to track an elusive leopard in T. Narsipura, in Karnataka.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Forest, Ecology and Environment Department of Karnataka has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bank of Baroda to provide ₹1 crore accident (death) insurance to officers and staff of the Forest Department and ₹20 lakh insurance coverage to outsourced personnel.
Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre said the frontline Forest Department staff work day and night, facing dangers while protecting forests and wildlife, and the department has lost several brave green warriors. “This MoU has been signed to provide social and financial security to all of them.”
Mr. Khandre further said that outsourced frontline staff also play a significant role in forest and wildlife conservation. Hence, a ₹20 lakh insurance facility has been extended to outsourced personnel.
“Bank of Baroda will provide ₹1 crore accidental death insurance to all permanent employees of the Forest Department, irrespective of their salary and cadre. In case of death while on duty, the bank will additionally pay ₹25 lakh,” he said.
If department employees continue their pension accounts with Bank of Baroda, the personal accident insurance coverage will remain valid up to the age of 70 years. In addition, the bank will provide life insurance coverage of ₹10 lakh to permanent employees.
The Minister said that awareness should be created about this initiative, and that staff have been instructed to open salary accounts with Bank of Baroda.
Published – December 25, 2025 05:18 pm IST
