Beehama, Ganderbal, June 14: Forestry students at SKUAST-KASHMIR protested against the proposed changes to the eligibility criteria for Range Officer posts in the Forest Department.
The students were upset that the Forest Department was considering allowing all science graduates to be eligible for gazetted posts in the forest department, regardless of whether they had a degree in forestry.
The students told Ziraat Times that they see this to be “unfair to forestry graduates, who had spent years studying a specialized degree.” They also argued that “it would be detrimental to the forest department, as it would mean that the department would be hiring people who were not qualified to manage forests.”
The students demanded that the Forest Department retain the requirement that Range Officers have a degree in forestry. They also threatened to continue protesting if the proposal was not changed.
“The protest by forestry students at SKUAST-K is a reminder of the importance of having a qualified workforce to manage forests. We also make a fervent appeal to LG Manoj Sinha to reconsider this decision for the sake of the career of Forestry students”, a student told Ziraat Times.
The students have submitted a Memorandum to the Commissioner Secretary Forest & PCCF and the Principal Secretary Forest Ecology and Environment Department Government of J&K.
