Bhopal, Aug 24 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Madhya Pradesh government will undertake fresh recruitment in the Forest Department to fill vacant posts after promoting 4,506 officers and employees, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Monday.
The Chief Minister said the move was aimed at strengthening the department’s workforce at a time when the state was focusing on modern technology and improved forest and wildlife management.
“The Forest Department has 25,389 sanctioned posts, while its current workforce is more than 18,000. Along with these promotions, orders have been issued for fresh recruitment to fill vacant posts,” he said while addressing a felicitation ceremony organised by recently promoted Forest Department personnel at the Indian Institute of Forest Management in Bhopal.
He said the promotions recognised the dedication of government employees, many of whom had waited for years for career advancement. Of the 4,506 personnel promoted, 188 are Assistant Conservators of Forests, 2,821 Foresters, 761 Deputy Forest Rangers and 736 belong to other cadres.
The Chief Minister described forest personnel as “Sons of Nature” and “Green Soldiers”, saying their contribution was vital in protecting the state’s forests, water resources, biodiversity and wildlife.
“Madhya Pradesh has been blessed with a unique wealth of forests and natural beauty. These forests define the identity of the state in India and across the world, and our forest personnel protect this heritage with dedication,” he said.
Yadav said Madhya Pradesh had emerged as a leading state in wildlife conservation and had earned recognition as the ‘Tiger State’, ‘Leopard State’, ‘Gharial State’, ‘Vulture State’ and now the ‘Cheetah State’.
The Chief Minister also stressed the use of modern technology in forest management and said development would be meaningful only when forests, biodiversity, rivers and the environment were protected.
He said new conservation initiatives included the Ratapani and Madhav Tiger Reserves, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Sanctuary and the state’s first Tapti Conservation Reserve.
–IANS
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