143 Forest Guard trainees march out to new responsibilities

AMEET OBEROI
GANGTOK: “You are all responsible citizens and from today onwards you must perform your duties with full responsibility. Punctuality and discipline are most important,” said Chief Minister Pawan Chamling while addressing the passing out parade of 143 Forest Guard trainees here at the Sikkim Armed Police Camp, Pangthang, organized by the Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management Department, today.
“Being a Forest Guard is not a minor task, but a starting point and you can keep climbing higher. To make this come true never lose hope, aim high and above all work hard,” he said and added that the duty of a Forest Guard was not just to guard, but also to protect the environment. He further urged the department to decide the postings of the FGs on the basis of their usefulness and knowledge.

Speaking on the salaries and incentives, he said that the salary of an FG was equal to that of a Sikkim Police Constable/Excise Guard and that this made them the highest paid FGs in the country. In a gesture of appreciation on their passing out, the Chief Minister also announced cash awards of Rs. 5000 to Rs. 8000 for the Forest Guards.
Speaking on forest and environment related issues, he said that there is need to work on a mission mode with result-oriented work. Plantation drives need to be taken up on all barren lands across the state, while mother trees need to be saved for the future and survival rate of the planted saplings need to go up, he said and added that for all this to happen the first step is to spread awareness amongst the people.
Asking the officials to pull up their socks, he said that areas should be earmarked for disposal of construction debris, not just in East Sikkim, but all over the State, along with stone and sand quarries. This, he has asked the department to do within the next 100 days. He further urged that the fire-fighting teams need to become more effective and to man the fire tents [put up at various places] properly.
He also urged the department to put up proposals concerning death [by wild animals] and crop compensation for the local people living in remote areas and for a new Directorate for Eco-Tourism to be set up in the department. The department should also adopt modern technology if needed to keep up with time, he shared.
He also urged the department to work on obtaining environment clearance for the Skywalk Project proposed to come up at Bhaley Dhunga since funds for the project had already been sanctioned and if the clearance is not obtained in time, the funds could lapse.
Addressing the gathering earlier, ST Lachungpa [CCF cum Secretary, FE&WMD] informed that a total of 143 [99 males, 44 females] had undergone a six month long training to become Forest Guards. This lot of Forest Guards have been given special training; while the males were trained at Sikkim Armed Police Training Centre at Yangyang, the ladies were trained here at SAP Training Camp at Pangthang. Out of the 143, 125 were direct recruits while 18 are previous and old Forest Guards working in various capacities of the department, he said and added that the Trainees were also taken to various places such as Uttrakhand, Nanital, Delhi, etc. on exposure trips.