Srinagar, Sep 11: Principal Secretary Forest, Environment & Ecology, Dheeraj Gupta along with Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & HoFF, Roshan Jaggi on Monday participated in the National Forest Martyr’s Day to commemorate the sacrifices of forest officers and frontline staff here at Forest Memorial located at Shankaracharya forests Srinagar.
The event witnessed the participation of other officers from various wings of the Forest Department and frontline staff were present and they paid floral tributes to commemorate the sacrifices of forest officers/officials. Similar events were also organized in different parts of J&K to mark the occasion.
On 11th September every year, Forest Martyrs Day is observed to commemorate the sacrifices of forest officers and frontline staff working for the protection and conservation of Forests, Wildlife and other related environmental issues. This Day is observed at the national level to highlight the need to protect and conserve Forests, Wildlife and Biodiversity for maintaining the ecological balance. To accomplish this difficult and challenging task, the forest officers and frontline staff who perform their duties under difficult working conditions in far-flung and difficult forest areas, there is need to be equipped with modern technology, the latest equipments and infrastructural facilities.
In Jammu & Kashmir, so far 85 forest officers and forest officials have laid down their lives while performing their duties in different capacities and capabilities of frontline forest staff to deal with the emerging challenges. The Forest Department has in the last few years taken various initiatives to improve the infrastructure and enhance the working capabilities of frontline staff.
In this regard, the focus has been laid on providing residential accommodation to frontline staff working in far-flung areas and also for improving mobility and training and capacity building. ICT applications have been increasingly used to modernize the working and enhance the capacity of the field staff.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest & CC, Government of India, had declared the 11th of September as National Forestry Martyrs Day in the year 2013 in recognition of the infamous Khejrli Massacre of 1730.
It is pertinent to mention here that frontline staff of Forest Department face various challenges while performing their duties which include attacks from forest offenders/timber smugglers, attacks from wild animals and other difficult working conditions due to inhospitable terrain and harsh weather conditions.
