Bengaluru: Over 600 BSc forestry students from three forestry colleges at Ponnampet, Sirsi and Iruvakki in the state gathered at Freedom Park on Monday and began their indefinite protest against what they said were shrinking job opportunities in the forest department due to declining reservations.
The students protested at their respective taluk headquarters earlier this month.
The govt provided 50% reservation to these graduates in recruitment for RFO and ACF posts in 2003. Subsequently, the reservation was extended for DyRFO posts and enhanced to 75% for RFO recruitment. “But what changed the equation was the govt’s sudden decision to reduce reservation from 75% to 50% in RFO recruitment. Subsequently, former chief secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar-led administrative reforms committee recommended 100% promotion for DyRFOs to RFO rank. This literally blocked the opportunity for fresh forestry graduates,” said Gowtham Raj, a student from Ponnampet.
Guru Prasad MR, another student, said, “Our seniors’ batch which passed out in 2018 will soon be crossing the minimum age required for recruitment. Forestry students can neither pursue any other courses nor take up jobs in any other sector. If the govt cannot ensure job prospects in whatever discipline we graduated, why did they set up forestry colleges?”
The students protested at their respective taluk headquarters earlier this month.
The govt provided 50% reservation to these graduates in recruitment for RFO and ACF posts in 2003. Subsequently, the reservation was extended for DyRFO posts and enhanced to 75% for RFO recruitment. “But what changed the equation was the govt’s sudden decision to reduce reservation from 75% to 50% in RFO recruitment. Subsequently, former chief secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar-led administrative reforms committee recommended 100% promotion for DyRFOs to RFO rank. This literally blocked the opportunity for fresh forestry graduates,” said Gowtham Raj, a student from Ponnampet.
Guru Prasad MR, another student, said, “Our seniors’ batch which passed out in 2018 will soon be crossing the minimum age required for recruitment. Forestry students can neither pursue any other courses nor take up jobs in any other sector. If the govt cannot ensure job prospects in whatever discipline we graduated, why did they set up forestry colleges?”
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