Foresters’ recruitment proceeds at snail’s pace

It has not only delayed a few projects announced by the state in the Assembly by more than two years, but has also failed to recruit foresters and field assistants in the past three years due to bureaucracy. The worst part is that the department, which was given a go ahead to recruit foresters and field staff in 2012 for 181 posts, is proceeding with the process at a snail’s pace.

“I was 28 years old when I started practising 25 km walk to clear forester exam. Almost four years have passed. I do not know where the process is heading to. There is no transparency and the rank list of those who cleared the examinations is yet to be published,” rued a candidate who appeared for written examination early this year.

“At this rate, the department will be left with more than 50 per cent field posts vacant by 2017. Due to these inordinate delays, I have made my brother’s son join a private company, though he wanted to join the forest department like me,” disclosed a ranger adding that the department was also clueless in formation of five special task force announced by the chief minister in August 2015 to reduce human – animal conflicts. Already, there is an anti poaching watcher group with forest department and a special task force team by state police to monitor the illegal activities in reserve forests. And this new announcement lacks clarity and the announcement still remains on paper, he added.

According to Panagal building sources, till June 2012, direct recruitment to the post of forester, forest guard, watcher and driver was done by obtaining list of eligible candidates from the employment exchanges conducting tests and interview. As the employment exchange sponsored eligible candidates based upon their registration seniority, the recommended candidates were mostly aged ones.

The state announced the formation of Tamil Nadu Forest Uniformed Services Recruitment Committee (TNFUSRC) and the committee started functioning from July 19, 2012 from Panagal buildings, Saidapet, the forest department headquarters. But after more than three years the end result was that not even a candidate has been recruited through the committee. When contacted, forest secretary Hans Raj Verma maintained he was having a busy schedule due to meetings. Additional principal chief conservator of forests and Chief wildlife warden V. K. Melkani was also not available for comment.