FORESTRY AS A CAREER

VOL. XL NO. 28 PAGES 48 NEW DELHI 10 - 16 OCTOBER 2015 ` 8.00 SARVODAYA: DEVELOPMENT OF ALL Dr. D. John Chelladurai Modernity has brought marvels to our doorsteps. We now can speak instantly to one on the other side of earth, travel at supersonic speed, ask for anything and we get it. This development however has come at a huge socio, environmental cost. From life style diseases to climatic change, from structuralized unemployment, poverty to organized terrorism the development has brought a lot of dangers together. Global bodies like the United Nations Organization (UNO) are busy deliberating on an urgent alternative to this crisis. Envisaging what is to come, Gandhi gave a prophetic vision of a sane society. He called it Sarvodaya. Development critique The idea of Sarvodaya came as a response to the critique on Modern Development: It focuses exclusively on physical happiness and economic prosperity, in disregard of morality. It aims at 'the happiness of the majority', no matter if the rest are affected. It exploits natural resources and fellow humans, therefore, "is contrary to divine law." It also promotes self-interest, drains us of our ability to discriminate between good and evil. Welfare of All The term 'Sarvodaya' is derived from 'Sarva' and 'Uday', meaning 'upliftment of all'. It is a birth right of every individual to rise to a better state of living. At individual level Sarvodaya means a 'way of living' and at the national level it is a 'social order'. Sarvodaya represents the spirit of universal brotherhood, in complete obedience to the law of nature, which Gandhi refers to as Truth. He wrote the book 'Sarvodaya' in 1908, inspired by Ruskins revolutionary book Unto This Last. Welfare of the Least Development, Gandhi insisted, ought to mean 'greatest good of all' and not 'greatest good of greatest number' as many believe. In the zeal for development, he cautions, we cannot overlook any one as dispensable. He variedly used the term 'Sarvodaya' to include 'upliftment of the least' by which he meant, the rise of the 'weakest and the lowliest.' Less informed people and physically weak too have the right to develop. To drive this point home, he used the term 'Antyodaya'. For Gandhi both 'Sarvodaya' and 'Antyodaya' are convertible terms. Foundational Teaching of Sarvodaya Life of humans, the social being, is intertwined with one another. Hence service to all is the way to serve oneself. This premise lays the foundation of the first of the three Teachings of Sarvodaya: "The Good of the individual is contained in the good of all." As a living being and being part of the Reality (Truth, God) every individual holds right to life and equal access to livelihood. This brought out the second teaching of Sarvodaya: "A lawyer's work has the same value as the barber's in as much as all have the same right of earning their livelihood from their work". While the outcome of mind (knowledge) enriches life, it is the outcome of physical labor (grains, pulses, fruit, cloth…) that sustain very human life. Therefore it is more proper that the conduct of life relies on physical work. From this realization emerged the third teaching of Sarvodaya: "That a life of labour, i.e., the life of the tiller of the soil and the handicraftsman is the life worth living" Continued on page 48 Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, New Delhi requires 450 Insurance Medical Officers (IMO) Grade-II (Allopathic) Last Date : 10.11.2015 (pg 37) ESIC Reserve Bank of India Services Board, Mumbai requires 134 Officers in Grade ‘B’ (General) Last Date : 23.10.2015 (pg 7-11) BANK All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur requires 615 Assistant Nursing Superintendent, Staff Nurse Grade-I & Staff Nurse Grade-II Last Date : 30 days after publication (pg 2-3) AIIMS JOB HIGHLIGHTS Follow us on: @Employ_News Visit our facebook page WEB EXCLUSIVES Following item is available in the Web Exclusives section on www.employmentnews.gov.in z Rani Gaidinliu- Daughter of the Hills For Informative articles on current affairs you can also visit www.facebook.com/yojanajournal www.facebook.com/publicationsdivision Turn over the pages for other vacancies in Banks, Armed Forces, Railways, PSUs and other Govt. Deptts FORESTRY AS A CAREER Forestry is an art and science of managing and judiciously using forests and forest based resources in a way that is scientifically sound, practically viable, ecologically sustainable and socially acceptable. The forestry sector has made significant contribution in the country by means of different green initiatives to counter the challenges of climate change. In order to make forestry a professionally managed sector, skilled and capable Green managers are required to deliver eco friendly goods & services. As far as commencement of scientific forestry in India is concerned, it started as early as 1864 to train the forestry personnel for the forest management. However, forestry education at University level in the country was started from the State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) in the year 1985 with the inception of B.Sc. Forestry a four year degree from Dr. Y.S.Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (YSPUHF) Solan, HP and Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), Akola, Maharashtra. Later this programme was initiated in G.B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUA&T), Pantnagar, UK and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu in 1986 followed by many other SAUs. Beside this, the master and doctoral level programme in forestry with specialization in specific topic of forestry was also started in some SAUs. The Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) started Post Graduate Diploma in Forestry Management (PGDFM) equivalent to master degree in forest management during 1988 at Bhopal to produce the Green Managers. In the recent past some traditional and private universities and institutes have also started forestry programmes in the country. In India, the forestry education, research, training and extension is governed by Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun, an apex body in forestry under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). However, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has made every endeavor in periodically framing and modifying the syllabus and guideline for the forestry education as per need of time at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level to SAUs. Presently around 26 SAUs and 40 traditional and private universities and colleges/ institutes are offering forestry education in India. Continued on page 47 Arvind Bijalwan and Manmohan J.R. Dobriyal facebook.com/director.employmentnews Employment News 10 - 16 October 2015 EDITORIAL www.employmentnews.gov.in 47 FORESTRY EDUCATION IN ACADEMIC INSTITUTES IN INDIA B.Sc. Forestry: B.Sc. forestry is a four year professional degree programme spread in eight semesters. Forestry graduates study course curriculum similar to Indian forest officers at Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun and Forest Rangers at State Forest Service (SFS) colleges. They are technically qualified, skilled and rigorously undergo one year field exposure under Rural Forestry Work Experience (RFWE) and Experiential Learning Programme (ELP) which can enable them for "earning while learning" and develop a confidence to manage the forestry enterprise as an independent unit. Moreover, the SAUs not only limit the role of forestry graduates to forest department but also train them as managers for green entrepreneurship in different organizations for green initiatives e.g. CSR activities of corporate, green and sustainable production and supply raw material to various forests produce based industries etc. M.Sc. & Ph.D. Forestry: Two years professional master degree in Forestry (M.Sc. Forestry) with specialization in Agroforestry, Forest genetic resources, Silviculture, Watershed management, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Forest products & their utilization, Wood science & Technology, Forest biotechnology, Plantation forestry, wildlife etc. and similarly minimum three years Doctoral programme as Ph.D. in Forestry is also running in SAUs, traditional Universities and institutes. Post Graduate Diploma in Forestry Management (PGDFM): IIFM, Bhopal is the only institute awarding two-year residential PGDFM equivalent to master’s degree in Forest Management in India. PGDFM professionals bestowed with managerial skill and knowledge in the field of forestry, environment and natural resource management are suitable as Green Managers. ADMISSION/SELECTION PROCEDURE FOR FORESTRY PROGRAMMES AT STATE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER INSTITUTES/ UNIVERSITIES: For admission in the B.Sc. Forestry (four year degree), one can apply after 10+2 having PCB/PCM/PCMB/ Agriculture group. The admission is either through qualifying the entrance examination or on merit basis. The process of selection in master's degree is also through exam or on merit basis. Similarly in Ph.D. Forestry, one can take admission in the SAUs or other Institutes/Universities on the basis of qualifying entrance examination or directly as per the norm of the concerned Institutes/Universities. Admission in SAUs for graduate, postgraduate and doctoral level programme in forestry can also be taken by qualifying all India entrance examination of ICAR, New Delhi. In PGDFM a graduate from any discipline can take admission on the basis of score (percentile) obtained in CAT conducted by IIMs or XAT followed by Group discussion and Personal Interview conducted by IIFM. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORESTRY PROFESSIONALS In the era of globalization and industrialization the realization is pouring on sustainability and ecological restoration carbon and energy footprints have also armed importance. These global concerns lead policy initiatives to create a job environment in green entrepreneurship and environment safety regulations to tackle the global climate change issues. Forestry is one of the options for all stakeholders to provide it a space at all levels. The current need has made reach of forestry professionals redefined for green jobs or assignments. Following are some of the broad potential areas where forestry students have avenues to work. z The forestry professionals having master's degree along with NET certificate in Forestry/Agroforestry can join the academic profession in the University teaching, research and extension as an Assistant Professor (AP), Research Officer (RO) and in KVKs as Subject Matter Specialist (SMS). They can also become scientists (forestry/agroforestry) by qualifying the all India Agricultural Research Services (ARS) examination annually conducted by Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board (ASRB) of ICAR, New Delhi. There is also good scope for Forestry graduates in State Forest Services (SFS) as per the policy of the states;. z They can launch their own entrepreneurship in the field of plant nursery centre, furniture industry; saw mills, wooden handicrafts units, plywood and bamboo product units, sericulture, value addition of various wild produce and herbal drugs etc. In the banking sector too forestry graduates are appointed as Agriculture officers, Rural Development officers, Extension officers etc in national, private and regional banks. z In private sector the foresters can take up work either in offices, laboratories, wood based industries or outdoors depending on their field of specialization. The forest based Industries include Paper and Pulp, Plywood, match industry, Wood Workshop and Saw Mills, Wood Seasoning and Preservation Treatment Plants, Katha Making Industry, Resin and Terpentine Industry, Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Units, Carpentry and bamboo crafts etc. z The scope is also good in big industries as Environmental Expert and quality control manager. PSUs related to hydropower NHPC, Thermal power plants- NTPC, steel plants, Cement plants, National highway authority, pollution control boards and various other infra companies appoint plantation officers for their various greening and environment protection works. Besides this, tea board; coffee board; rubber and other plantation companies; biomass base industries; landscaping and urban forestry in corporate and civic bodies are also good avenues for forestry degree holder. z Employment opportunities exist with organizations working in conservation of forest resources and corporate plantations too. There are many reputed NGOs which are working in the forestry/Agroforestry and rural development sectors. Many corporates also take forestry graduates in their CSR activities for rural and tribal areas for linking forestry to livelihood activities. z The doors are open to experienced Forestry professionals in the international agencies working in the field of forestry viz. IUCN, WWF, World Bank, UNDP, etc. z The forestry professional can be a consultant to the State and central Project Management Units (PMUs), Pollution Control Boards, Environmental Legal Advisor to the industrial sector and NGOs ; One can also register as Charted Forester (CF) for providing technical and procedural assistance to the people willing to take up forestry on their private holdings. z Carbon finance is another emerging sector for CDM projects of Aforestation/ reforestation and REDD+ projects where preparation of PDD, planning & monitoring, evaluation all required forestry professionals by UNFCC and state governments & plantation companies. IMPORTANT INDIAN UNIVERSITIES/ INSTITUTIONS OFFERING UNDERGRADUATE, POSTGRADUATE AND DOCTORAL PROGRAMMES IN FORESTRY Dr. Y.S.Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, HP; Tamilnadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; Forest Research InstituteDU, Dehradun, UK; Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, M.P.; Kerala Agricultural University, Trichur; Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat; Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharastra; G.B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttrakhand (UK); Chaudhari Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar; Indira Gandhi Agriculture University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh; Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar; Birsa Agicultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand; Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar, UK; University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka; Jawharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur, MP; Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Sher-eKashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, J & K.; Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra; Central Agriculture University, Imphal, Mizoram; Allahabad Agricultural Institute-DU (Now SHIATS), Allahabad; North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), Itanagar; H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal, UK; Kumaun University, Nainital, UK; Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh; Dolphin (PG) Institute of Biomedical and Natural Sciences, Dehradun, UK; Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, Punjab. (The above list is indicative only) (Dr. Arvind Bijalwan teaches at Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal; Dr. Manmohan J.R. Dobriyal is associated with Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat. Dr. Bijalwan can be reached at e-mail: arvindbijalwan276@gmail.com) FORESTRY AS... Continued from page 1 „ Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar commissioned INS Kochi, a stealth guided missile destroyer to Indian Navy recently. A made in Mumbai warship by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, the super warship has been designed by Indian Navy’s in-house organisation, Directorate of Naval Design. INS Kochi incorporates new design concepts for stealth and has many firsts to her credit, including a very large component of indigenous combat-suite. The ship is packed with the most sophisticated state-of-the-art weapons and sensors including the vertically launched Long Range Surface to Air Missiles (LRSAM) and MF-STAR multi-function active phased array radar, which is fitted only on the Kolkata class of ships „ PSLV has successfully launched ASTROSAT, the country’s Multi Wavelength Space Observatory, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikotta recently along with six foreign customer satellites into a 644.6 X 651.5 km orbit inclined at an angle of 6 deg to the equator. The achieved orbit is very close to the intended one. This was the thirtieth consecutive success for PSLV. ASTROSAT is India’s first dedicated multi wavelength space observatory. This scientific satellite mission endeavours for a more detailed understanding of our universe. ASTROSAT is designed to observe the universe in the Visible, Ultraviolet, low and high energy X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum simultaneously with the help of its five payloads. „ Union Government has launched Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification & Maintenance) Policy-2015 to promote greening of National Highway corridors across the country with participation of the community, farmers, private sector, NGOs, and government institutions. The policy was unveiled by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi recently. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that 1 per cent of the total project cost of all highways projects will be kept aside for the highway plantation and its maintenance. He said that about Rs. 1000 crore per year will be available for plantation purpose. He added that there will be strong monitoring mechanism in place by using ISRO’s Bhuvan and GAGAN satellite systems. The Green Highway Policy will help in making India pollution free, the minister added. He said that the vision of the policy is to provide dignified employment to local people and communities. „ Reserve Bank of India has cut repo rate by 50 basis points to 6.75 per cent; Cash reserve ratio remains unchanged at 4%; this fourth policy rate cut by RBI this year. It was announced in the recently released fourth bi-monthly policy of RBI since January 2015. The Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley while responding to the Monetary Policy announcement said that the Government welcomes the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s decision. The Finance Minister said that constant vigilance is warranted on the inflation front, this action signals that inflationary pressures have moderated significantly and are within the RBI’s comfort zone. He said that the Government is committed to meet its fiscal deficit target to consolidate the gains achieved in reducing the inflation. „ Government has constituted an expert committee to examine various issues related to UPSC civil services examination to select IAS and IPS officers. The committee panel would be headed by the former IAS officer from Chhattisgarh cadre B.S. Baswan and shall consist of leading academicians, technocrats and senior bureaucrats. The committee will look into all aspects of civil services examination including age relaxation, eligibility, syllabus and pattern of examination. Based on the report of the committee, Union Government will further make changes in the civil services exam pattern which is conducted annually in three stages — preliminary, main and interview. „ Indian Railways has recently launched its Knowledge Portal namely www.kportal.indianrailways.gov.in which has aggregated most of the available knowledge about Indian Railways at one location and has also tried to encompass as much knowledge as possible, by linking websites, documents etc. for dissemination of knowledge on Indian Railways. This portal is an initiative of the National Academy of Indian Railways (NAIR), Vadodara. This portal is an aggregation of information, with links to resources of the Indian Railways, for the purpose of dissemination of knowledge, innovations and best practices. „ Former Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra has won the men’s 10 metre air rifle event at the Asian Air Gun Championship recently. Bindra shot 208.8 points to clinch the gold while compatriots Gagan Narang and Chain Singh finished fourth and sixth respectively at the Karni Singh Shooting Range. All the three shooters have already secured quota places for next year's Olympics to be held in Rio de Janeiro. India won the gold medal in the 10m air rifle team event too with Bindra, Narang and Chain Singh shooting a total of 1868.6. The Korean team finished second and Saudi Arabia took the third spot. „ Government has cut the natural gas prices for power and fertilizer sector by 16 per cent to USD 4.24 per unit for the six month period, beginning October 1st. Natural gas prices, according to a formula approved by the government in October last year, will fall to 4.24 US dollar million British thermal unit (mmbtu) on net calorific value (NCV) basis from the current 5.50 US dollar mmbtu. On gross calorific value (GCV) basis, the new gas price for October 1st to March 31st would be 3.82 us dollar per mmBtu as compared to 4.66 us dollar currently. The price cut is the second reduction in rates ever - the first being on April 1st. „ India has emerged as the top destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as compared with China and United states in the first half of 2015. A report published in London’s Financial Times has mentioned that India has attracted roughly 31 billion US dollar ahead of 28 billion dollar of China and 27 billion of United States. „ India has moved up 16 positions to rank 55th on a Global Index of the world’s most competitive economies, where Switzerland remains on top. The World Economic Forum (WEF) has said in its latest Global Competitiveness Report that the jump in India’s position underlines the country’s recent economic recovery, improvement in the competitiveness of the country’s institutions and its macroeconomic environment and a “slight improvement” in infrastructure. Globally, Switzerland has retained its top position as the world’s most competitive economy for seventh year in a row and is followed by Singapore, the US, Germany and the Netherlands in the top-five. These are followed by Japan, Hong Kong, Finland, Swedenand the UK in the top-ten. NEWS DIGEST