Coimbatore: In what is considered a first for Tamil Nadu, 190 women have been recruited as Forest Guards by the State Government from the Tamil Nadu Forest Academy (TNFA).
Coimbatore: In what is considered a first for Tamil Nadu, 190 women have been recruited as Forest Guards by the State Government from the Tamil Nadu Forest Academy (TNFA).
The women were among the 597 candidates who passed out of TNFA today, as Forest Guards, in the Passing Out Ceremony graced by the TN Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palanisamy. “These women will be posted all over Tamil Nadu, where they are to carry out their duty on par with their male counterparts,” said a forest official.
The event that marked the first mass recruitment of Forest Guards in TN, also witnessed the arriving of an incumbent TN Chief Minister in the TNFA campus, after the year 1939. Speaking at the event, CM Palanisamy urged the recruits to make good use of the opportunity and conserve the forests of the State.
“We are making all efforts possible to support wildlife conservation and education. The Forest Minister had visited the zoos of Thailand and Singapore to make upgradations at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park. We will be adding rare bird and animal species there. The State is also striving to increase the forest cover,” said the TN CM. Earlier, the CM had accepted the Guard of Honour offered by the Forest Guard and Forester trainees in TNFA. Women Forest Guards also performed a human formation chain on their new Himalayan bikes offered to the Elite Force by the State.
Various stalls were put up by the Department showcasing Eco Development Committee activities, conflict mitigation measures, curbing wildlife crime, forest produce, tribal welfare and TNFA activities. Three books including Forest Guard Training Magazine (Souvenir), Birds of Tamil Nadu and Study Materials of Foresters were launched on the day.
The CM awarded certificates and medals for toppers in various subjects including Wildlife Management, Forest Services and Water Shed Management, Forest Policy and Law and Forest Protection. The overall toppers were also honoured at the event.
The recruits were selected based on their performance at various levels and online tests monitored by the newly-formed Tamil Nadu Forest Uniformed Services Recruitment Committee. They also went through a six-month training period at TNFA since April 1. TNFA has also trained 300 foresters of which 278 have been recruited.
Elated at being selected as a Forest Guard, S Chandralekha, one of the recruits said that the transparent process was helpful in achieving their dreams. “Earlier there were notions that the procedure was corrupted. This time, the candidates were put through stringent tests and field visits to emerge as able Forest Guards,” she added.
Speaking at the event, Dindigul C Srinivasan, State Forest Minister said that TN would soon increase the forest cover by 33 percent according to norms. The Principal Forest Secretary Shambu Kallolikar, TNFA Director I Anwardeen, Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani, Deputy Speaker Pollachi V Jayaraman, local MLAs, TNFA teaching staff and other forest officials attended the event.
The women were among the 597 candidates who passed out of TNFA today, as Forest Guards, in the Passing Out Ceremony graced by the TN Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palanisamy. “These women will be posted all over Tamil Nadu, where they are to carry out their duty on par with their male counterparts,” said a forest official.
The event that marked the first mass recruitment of Forest Guards in TN, also witnessed the arriving of an incumbent TN Chief Minister in the TNFA campus, after the year 1939. Speaking at the event, CM Palanisamy urged the recruits to make good use of the opportunity and conserve the forests of the State.
“We are making all efforts possible to support wildlife conservation and education. The Forest Minister had visited the zoos of Thailand and Singapore to make upgradations at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park. We will be adding rare bird and animal species there. The State is also striving to increase the forest cover,” said the TN CM. Earlier, the CM had accepted the Guard of Honour offered by the Forest Guard and Forester trainees in TNFA. Women Forest Guards also performed a human formation chain on their new Himalayan bikes offered to the Elite Force by the State.
Various stalls were put up by the Department showcasing Eco Development Committee activities, conflict mitigation measures, curbing wildlife crime, forest produce, tribal welfare and TNFA activities. Three books including Forest Guard Training Magazine (Souvenir), Birds of Tamil Nadu and Study Materials of Foresters were launched on the day.
The CM awarded certificates and medals for toppers in various subjects including Wildlife Management, Forest Services and Water Shed Management, Forest Policy and Law and Forest Protection. The overall toppers were also honoured at the event.
The recruits were selected based on their performance at various levels and online tests monitored by the newly-formed Tamil Nadu Forest Uniformed Services Recruitment Committee. They also went through a six-month training period at TNFA since April 1. TNFA has also trained 300 foresters of which 278 have been recruited.
Elated at being selected as a Forest Guard, S Chandralekha, one of the recruits said that the transparent process was helpful in achieving their dreams. “Earlier there were notions that the procedure was corrupted. This time, the candidates were put through stringent tests and field visits to emerge as able Forest Guards,” she added.
Speaking at the event, Dindigul C Srinivasan, State Forest Minister said that TN would soon increase the forest cover by 33 percent according to norms. The Principal Forest Secretary Shambu Kallolikar, TNFA Director I Anwardeen, Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani, Deputy Speaker Pollachi V Jayaraman, local MLAs, TNFA teaching staff and other forest officials attended the event.