Mahinder Patyal
Bharmour
The Himachal Pradesh Forest Non-Gazetted Employees Federation, Bharmour Division, has strongly opposed the state government’s decision to initiate recruitment for Assistant Forest Guards, calling it impractical and detrimental to departmental interests. The federation has issued a stern warning that if the decision is not reconsidered immediately, employees will be compelled to launch an agitation.
Federation President Avinash Thakur stated that hundreds of Forest Guard posts remain vacant, severely affecting field-level operations. He argued that recruiting for new positions like Assistant Forest Guards would not only waste resources but also weaken the departmental structure further.
Thakur emphasized that implementing overlapping roles such as Forest Guard, Assistant Forest Guard, and Van Mitra within the same beat is unworkable, leading to responsibility conflicts, administrative disorder, and obstacles in effective execution of duties. He described the decision as being completely disconnected from ground realities.
The federation insisted that existing vacant Forest Guard posts must be filled through regular recruitment to ensure effective forest protection, prevention of illegal felling, wildlife safety, and patrolling.
Appealing directly to the Chief Minister, the federation demanded immediate withdrawal of the decision and restoration of the traditional recruitment process. It warned that ignoring employees’ legitimate demands would trigger statewide protests and movements, for which the government would bear full responsibility.
