Protectors of our country’s forests and wildlife, the women officers of Indian Forest Service (IFS) have shouldered more than their share of responsibilities. But strangely, all these years they could not really come out of the shadows and be in the limelight the way their male colleagues in the IFS, or in other bureaucratic circles, do quite often. Things, however, are changing and the Union Environment Ministry has given them all a name which they richly deserve: `the Green Queens of India’!

STAMP OF RECOGNITION

This recognition to the army of women IFS officer came from the Union Environment Minister Mr Prakash Javadekar on March 8, 2021- on the occasion of the International Women’s Day. He did it by releasing an e-book `The Green Queens of India- Nations Pride’. Published by the IFS Association, the book covers many interesting facts about the women IFS officers, the challenges they faced, their courageous deeds in the field and also various accolades they received during their respective careers.

The true stories of these women IFS officers prove that they are second to none. Speaking with Indian Masterminds, the Inspector General (IG) in National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Mr Surender Mehra, said the women forest officers have always played a pivotal role in all the conservation and pro-environment projects.

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“And now,’’ pointed out Mr Mehra, “the women IFS officers have a bigger role to play due to the changing dynamics. We are now moving beyond safeguarding our flora and fauna. What we are focusing now is the people- oriented approach to saving our natural treasures, involving them in the various schemes and projects. And here, the women officers will play a major role.’’

CORBETT PARK LEADS BY EXAMPLES

The winds of change can be seen at many places. As Mr Rahul, the Field Director of Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand told Indian Masterminds, even the Deputy Director of the park, Ms Kalyani, was a woman.

Situated in the picturesque Terai region of Uttarakhand, Corbett Park is one of the most popular reserves of India and draws large number of tourists and shutterbugs from all over the world. And therefore, even small changes in the park administration do not go unnoticed.

A welcoming change in the proper running of Corbett Park, said its Field Director Mr Rahul, was inclusion of women as nature guides. “As of now,’’ he added, “we have eight nature guides in the park, and this is certainly a very important move which we have initiated. Even some of our range officers are women. Not only that, women forest officials in Corbett Tiger Reserve are actively involved in patrolling and fire-fighting. And they have been doing very good work,’’.

Today, there are 284 women IFS officers in India. In 1980, and for the first time, three women joined the Indian Forest Service. They were: Ms Veena Sekhari, Ms Meera Agarwal and Ms C.S.Ramalakshmi. All three of them rose to the top of their respective careers.

`I HAVE BEEN PROUD OF MY WORK’

Ms Veena Sekhari, who retired five years ago as Uttarakhand’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Forces (HoFF) is a shining example of what all a woman IFS officer is capable of achieving. Her life-story finds a particular mention in the e-book which the Union Environment Minister released on the International Women’s Day.

“Of course, I am very happy and excited,’’ Ms Veena told Indian Masterminds when asked to react to the development.

“But the fact remains,’’ she added, “our work in the Forest Service is in no way different from the men. My first appointment was in Gorakhpur, and it was very tough posting- but I never complained or slunk back in fear. In my 36 years of service, I gave my best and have been proud of my work.’’

Officer of the Indian Forest Service (IFS), both women and men, have done the country proud and are on the fore-front of protecting our national assets from poachers, timber smugglers and forest fires. We will be regularly sharing their true stories with our readers.