In keeping with its long time objectives of promoting conservation oriented development and reducing human-wild animal conflict, the 138-year-old Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association (NWEA) organised a function here on Monday to extend financial assistance to the families of some of the victims of such conflicts. The beneficiaries were the families of Mahalakshmi, an employee of a tea garden near Paatavayal who had recently been killed by a tiger, Ramiah, watchman of an arecanut grove at Geddhai who had been killed by an elephant, and Bomman, a mahout who had sustained serious injuries when he was attacked by a captive elephant at the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR). The Nilgiris Collector and president, NWEA, P.Sankar gave away cheques for Rs. 10,000 to each of the families. Later, interacting with the NWEA members including vice-president Kuppuraja and secretary D.Lawrence, the Collector appreciated the role of the association in supplementing the efforts of the Government to balance development and conservation. District Forest Officer, The Nilgiris South, C.Badrasami, and Deputy Director, MTR, D.Chandran were present. Executive committee member of NWEA K.Vijay said that such functions were being organised periodically for the past several years. The aim of the association was to safeguard the interests of people and also wild animals.