ES Newsdesk

ITANAGAR, Jun 8: In what could be termed as an exasperating effort, Forestry Students Association of Arunachal Pradesh has been running from pillar to post with a two point memorandum: degree in forestry as the sole criteria for the posts of Range Forest Officer (RFO) and Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) ; second, re-inclusion of forestry as an optional subject in the state civil service examinations conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh Public  Service Commission (APPSC). 
“We want policy similar to what’s there in Kerala and Jammu & Kashmir where RFO and ACF posts are 100% reserved for candidates with degree in forestry,” said Nabam Rikam, Assistant General Secretary of the association while highlighting that till date only seven candidates with forestry degree have  made it to the posts of RFO and ACF in the state. 
“What’s the point of conducting ACF, RFOs etc examinations when candidates aren’t asked about the subject they are going to deal with,” stated the association while questioning the rationale behind including subjects not related to the job in forestry departments.  
Not only that, these candidates do not take forestry or related subject to clear the examinations, they further claimed. 
Further they pointed out that Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission has excluded forestry from the  optional subjects which has made the forestry graduates’ life much more tougher.
“We can’t be treated like pariahs, after all we were sponsored by the state government through state’s joint entrance examination,” stated the association while informing that they have met Mama Natung, Minister for Forest and Environment in November last year regarding the issue. 
Extending his moral support to the issues raised by the students, Lok Sabha MP Tapir Gao told this daily that the state government should address the issue on merit as soon as possible.
“I am informed that the concern Minister had endorsed  the file to the  Principal Chief Conservator of Forest hence I request him to study the case and take immediate action. Delaying of the file related to the future generation of the state does not reflect well,” said Gao while adding, even APPSC should consider re-inclusion of forestry  as an optional subject. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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