By: Jauhar Rafeeq
The ongoing agitation led by forestry students in Jammu and Kashmir, protesting against the proposed changes in the eligibility criteria for Range Officer positions in the state forest department, highlights the urgent need to revisit the draft amendment of the recruitment policy. This demand aligns with the existing provisions in many states where reservations are granted for Range Officer recruitment. Students from SKUAST-Kashmir have been actively protesting against the proposed amendments, sparked by the Forest Department’s decision to alter the 1970 rule of Gazetted service. The previous rule mandated a B.Sc. Forestry degree as the sole requirement for the Range Officer position, while the department now intends to adopt the 2004 State Forest Service rule, which allows all science graduates to be eligible for gazetted posts in the forest department.
The Origin of Forestry Degrees
To understand the background of forestry graduates, it is important to recognize the recommendations put forth by the National Commission on Agriculture (NCA) in 1976, which advocated for the introduction of forestry education to conserve forests, protect natural resources, and preserve the environment. This emphasis was further emphasized in India’s forest policy in 1988. Following these developments, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) proposed the establishment of Bachelor’s degree programs in forestry at State Agricultural Universities (SAUs). Various SAUs across India began offering forestry programs in 1985, a four-year course with eight semesters, aiming to produce skilled professionals for effective forest and natural resource management. Admission into the Bachelor’s course in forestry is highly competitive, involving qualifying for the entrance examination conducted by ICAR-AIEEA (All India Entrance Examination for Admission). In some cases, state-level exams or merit-based selection processes are employed by universities. The admission procedure may differ across states, with some relying on qualifying exams such as the Pre-Agricultural Test/Joint Entrance Test conducted for veterinary and agricultural sciences.
Presently, approximately 3000 forest graduates emerge each year from different Indian states. Despite investing four years in a B.Sc. degree, an additional two years for an M.Sc., and four years for a Ph.D., these graduates face challenges in securing employment due to the lack of well-defined national and state-level recruitment policies.
Forestry Education in Jammu and Kashmir
Recognizing the need for specialized technical personnel in the forestry sector, the ICAR, along with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), approved the B.Sc. Forestry degree as a professional qualification. In line with this, the Jammu and Kashmir government granted permission to SKUAST-Kashmir to initiate the degree program in 1987, making it the first such program in the Union Territory. Admission to the B.Sc. Forestry Degree program was initially conducted through JKBOPEE, but from 2013 onwards, SKUAST-Kashmir itself conducts the Open Competitive University Entrance Test exam (UET), enabling all Jammu and Kashmir domiciles, including Ladakh UT Domiciles, to participate. Additionally, Jammu and Kashmir domiciles pursue B.Sc. Forestry degrees in various ICAR/UGC universities and associated colleges across the country, as well as in foreign universities. Despite holding degrees (B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., PDF) in Forestry and the significant dependence of the Union Territory on tourism, driven by its lush evergreen forests, forestry graduates still face unemployment. These students have invested a substantial portion of their lives in forestry research, fieldwork, and comprehensive study of forestry courses. The objective behind launching the forestry course was to build the capacity of skilled and knowledgeable professionals who can effectively contribute to the current trends in forest management.
Curriculum of Forestry Degree
The curriculum of the forestry degree covers a wide range of subjects that are equivalent to the standard syllabus of training courses provided at the prestigious Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, which trains Indian Forest Service officials. Forestry graduates are exposed to diverse disciplines, including principles and practices of silviculture, silviculture of Indian trees, agroforestry systems and management, plantation forestry, silviculture systems, nursery management, world forestry system, livestock management, forest mensuration, environmental science, fundamentals of horticulture, and more. Furthermore, the program encompasses topics such as plant biochemistry and biotechnology, principles of cytology and genetics, entrepreneurship development and communication skills, elementary statistics and computer applications, principles of plant physiology, tree physiology, and various other relevant subjects. Additionally, a crucial component of the course involves one year of fieldwork under the Rural Forestry Work Experience and Experiential Learning Program. Despite the comprehensive nature of their education, forestry graduates are consistently overlooked in favor of candidates from other backgrounds. This raises a pertinent question: if forest graduates are being sidelined in favor of science graduates, then what is the purpose of imparting a professional forestry course to individuals?
Conclusion
The proposed draft amendment to the eligibility criteria for Range Officer positions in the Jammu and Kashmir forest department appears to be a violation and motivated decision, favoring the recruitment of non-technical individuals for specialized positions. Any amendment seeking to change the eligibility criteria would not only be detrimental to the future of forestry students but also undermine the entire framework of forestry education. It is essential to recognize that a B.Sc. Forestry degree, with its highly technical and specialized curriculum, is irreplaceable by any other degree program. The current move by the department to amend the recruitment rules is exacerbating the frustration already experienced by unemployed forestry professionals. Considering the aforementioned points, it is urged to reconsider and revoke the proposed amendment in order to uphold justice within the profession.
(Writer is pursuing Ph. D in Forestry and is also President Students Council Faculty of Forestry SKUAST-K. He can be reached at jauharparrey93@gmail.com)
