Report of the Tiger Task Force - PRS

■ JOINING THE DOTS TIGER TASK FORCE REPORTANNEXURE-X A critique of cadre-building in theforestry sector and suggestions for humanresource improvement■ H S PANWAR, member, Tiger Task ForceThe institutional hierarchy in the forestry sector isorganised in the following structures:The Indian Forest Service (IFS), an All-India Service,leads forest and wildlife management both in thestates and the Centre. Recruitment in the service isdirect and by promotion from the State ForestService. Central government positions are also filledby IFS officers seconded on deputation from the statecadres.The State Forest Service (SFS): The SFS officers renderthe function of supervisory assistance in protectionand work execution. Recruitment is both direct andby promotion from range forest officers. When IFSwas reconstituted in 1966, direct recruitment to thestate service was stopped. But, ostensibly, to sharethe increased workload direct recruitment wasrestarted in 1978. As it proved later this was anunwise move as over time this has led to widespreadstagnation in forestry cadres down the line fromrangers to forest/wildlife guards.Forest Rangers or Range Forest Officers (RFO): Forestand wildlife protection and execution of fieldactivities as well as accounts are organized andcontrolled with a range as the base unit. The RFO isthe key field level functionary. Recruitment is bothdirect and by promotion from the post of deputyrangers.Forester/Deputy Ranger (Range Assistant or RoundOfficer): A range is usually organized into twosubunits in charge a forester or deputy ranger. Theylead or participate in patrolling parties as well asexecute field works and other activities. Recruitmentat forester level is both direct and by protection fromforest guard level. Generally deputy ranger Positionsare all filled by promotion from foresters.Forest and Wildlife Guards: Basic protection unit isa beat manned by a forest/wildlife guard assisted bya ‘watcher’. In PAs, guards must live in interiorchowkis and carry our patrolling as well as keeptrack of animals or animal-signs and habitat use bythem. They thus render valuable information of usein wildlife management. Besides they also carry outthe works e.g. fire protection, road maintenance.Foresters and forest/wildlife guards constitutethe main frontline whereas the rangers are the mainfield executants. ACFs (IFS probationers and SFSofficers), DCFs and CFs carry out different levels ofsupervisory and control functions in an ascendingorder from rangers above:Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF): Fieldsupervision of protection and management.Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF): Above plusplanning annual work programmes, budgets,rendering accounts and exercising administrativecontrol over their territories and units in their charge,say a forest division, a protected area or a part of atiger reserve.Conservator of Forests (CF): As head of a forest-circleor the field director of a tiger reserve, carries outplanning, oversees implementation and exercisesoverall administrative control. In a territorial chargea CF usually controls 4-5 forest divisions.Poor Cadre Planning & ManagementThe adverse impacts of revival of direct recruitmentsto the SFS have significantly upset the promotionprospects lower down leading to frustration in thesubordinate forestry cadres – the rangers and thefrontline staff. This has been further drasticallycompounded by the heavy direct recruitments in theIFS and SFS and even RFO cadres during 1978 up toabout 1990. In the IFS the peak years were 1988, 1989and 1993, otherwise they have remained at annualaverages during periods shown below:● Peak years: 1988 - 155; 1989 - 107 and 1993 - 82● 65 during 1968-1986● 55 during 1989-1997 (excluding 1993, a peakyear)● 25 during 1998-2003In the SFS also these have been erratic withirrationally high levels from 1980 to 1990 averagingat 123 per year. They dropped off to about 33200 Annexures