GANDERBAL, SEPT 24: B.Sc Forestry graduates of the Faculty of Forestry, Benhama Watlar, Ganderbal, continued their sit-in protest for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, demanding revision of the Forest Department’s recruitment rules and greater recognition of specialised Forestry education in the selection process for the post of Forester.
The protesting graduates said the existing recruitment framework does not provide adequate weightage or preference to candidates holding a specialised degree in Forestry, despite their academic and practical training in subjects directly related to forest management and conservation.
They said their course curriculum covers specialised areas including Silviculture, Forest Management, Wildlife, Forest Mensuration, Agroforestry, Ecology and other disciplines relevant to the functioning of the Forest Department.
According to the protesters, candidates from different educational backgrounds are presently eligible for the Forester post, while graduates possessing a professional degree specifically focused on Forestry do not receive any additional weightage or preference during recruitment.
“Students spend years acquiring specialised knowledge and practical understanding of forestry, but when it comes to recruitment in the Forest Department, their professional qualification is treated on par with general educational qualifications,” the protesting students said.
The graduates maintained that their demand is not intended to deprive other eligible candidates of employment opportunities. Instead, they are seeking recognition of specialised Forestry education in recruitment to posts that are directly connected with their field of study.
They questioned the rationale behind offering specialised Forestry education if graduates trained specifically for the profession are not given due consideration while recruiting personnel for the Forest Department.
The protesters urged the authorities to review and update the existing recruitment rules and incorporate appropriate provisions for recognising B.Sc Forestry qualifications in the selection process for Forester posts.
They also appealed to the concerned authorities to initiate dialogue with the protesting students and address their concerns at the earliest, stating that recruitment criteria should adequately reflect the specialised academic and professional requirements associated with the Forester post.
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