A group of 79 probationers of Indian Forest Service of 2012 batch called on the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee today (August 6, 2013) at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Speaking on the occasion, the President congratulated the probationers on their success in a very difficult examination. He emphasized that urgent attention needs to be paid to problems such as environmental degradation, global warming, ecological imbalances etc. He stated that while we will have to place our view point in international discussions, we cannot ignore the need to put in our own efforts to save ourselves. He stated that this is a lesson which we can draw from the Uttarakhand tragedy.
The President reminded the probationers of the words of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, who said that mother earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed. He said that the scientific temperament, knowledge and expertise which the probationers would gain during their years of service would enrich the nation as a whole and we shall be able to build up the desired world we would like to see.
These probationers are presently undergoing their training in various aspects of sustainable management and administration of forest, wildlife and environment at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun. They are in Delhi from August 5 to 7, 2013 for a course in ‘Parliamentary Processes and Procedures’ organized by the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training at Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training, Parliament House Complex.
Out of 79 probationers, 2 are foreign trainees from Bhutan and 22 are lady officers. These probationers come from diverse educational backgrounds including Forestry, Engineering, Agriculture, Life Sciences and among them four are PhDs.
Also present on the occasion were Dr. V. Rajagopalan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Shri K. Jude Sekar, Director General of Forests and Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests and Shri R.K. Goel, Director, Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun.
This release issued at 1315 hrs