Foresters and anti poaching watchers who are trained in jungles under severe climatic conditions are often diverted for household work to serve the selfish ends of senior IFS officials. A section of forest rangers who recently convened their annual general body meeting here alleged that foresters are forced to work as orderlies at the residences of senior forest officials.
The rangers association also passed a resolution condemning the practice that is common among the IPS and IAS fraternity in the state. The field range officials also disclosed names of a few district forest officials who often misuse patrol vehicles provided by the forest department to transport their family members and relatives.
“Initially we decided to include the names of a few senior officials who were exploiting the human resource, but later thought it would affect the morale of the forest department. Most of the government servants know about the orderly practice prevailing among the police and civil service officials. But not many know that such a system prevails among Indian forest service officials”, says a ranger who does not wish to be identified. Tamil Nadu Forest Staff Association's state president, M. Nazir, said that forest department personnel are subjected to mental ordeal when they are forced to do menial jobs. Trained personnel are forced to do gardening, housekeeping and undertake market visits. The drivers attached to the forest department are exploited in being forced to drive private vehicles owned by IFS officials, he alleged.
According to A. Bhutan Raja, president, Tamil Nadu Anti-poaching watcher Association, the forest department has failed to provide even basic amenities for both the permanent and temporary employees working to guard pristine forest areas. A memorandum explaining the ordeal of the foresters and APWs will soon be submitted to the government, he added.
“With several hundred posts lying vacant and the senior officials eating into the human resource, the burden on the field staff is high”, says a senior wildlife official.