The grand finale of the Eco Warrior Awards 2023, organised jointly by Indian Masterminds and IFS Association, began with the arrival of the Union Minister of Forest Mr. Bhupender Yadav and Minister of State Mr. Ashwini Kumar Choubey, and ended on a beautiful note with a live performance by sand artist Niteesh.
As Mr. Yadav presented the awards to the five recipients – Ms. Basu Kannogia, Dr. Mohan Ram, Mr. Ritesh Sirothia, Mr. Biswajit Mishra and Mr. Millo Tasser, the hall resounded with the sound of applause.
Each awardee was given a citation and a trophy in recognition of their exemplary work.
NOT JUST A SERVICE BUT A PASSION
Addressing the august gathering of IFS officers and other dignitaries, Union Forest Minister Bhupender Yadav said that wildlife conservation is not a service, it is a passion. He emphasised the role of destiny in leading one towards this career. “It is destiny that leads one towards an exam and then a career, but it is hard work and the passion to discharge one’s responsibilities dilligently that ultimately leads to fulfillment of one’s goals and true purpose in life,” he said.
Asking those who did not get an award not to get disheartened, he said that they are equally good and will get their chances in future. He further said that wildlife conservation also includes community service, adoption of new technology and even adoption of society and thanked Indian Masterminds and Indian Forest Service Association for encouraging officers by instituting these awards. He concluded by saying, “It is not just a service, it is a mission. Each one of you is a karmayogi. This is the Prime Minister’s message for you all.”
JOURNEY THAT BEGAN DURING PANDEMIC
Before giving vote of thanks to the ministers and other dignitaries for gracing the occasion with their presence, Editor of Indian Masterminds, Mr. Sharad Gupta, briefed the august gathering about the journey of the organisation since its birth during the pandemic in 2020. “It was during the pandemic when we decided to start Indian Masterminds to profile the bureaucrats and their good work. We ended up doing around 300 plus stories on IFS officers alone, and it was then that we realised that there were no specific awards for them.”
He further said that the idea to constitute these awards was formed on April 5, while talking to IFS officer Mr. Saket Badola, the General Secretary of IFS Association. “He came up with this idea and we gave shape to it. And, 7-8 months of hard work has resulted in this,” he said, referring to the awards function.
Besides the ministers, his vote of thanks also included Mr. S P Yadav, President of IFS Association, DG Forests Mr. C P Goyal, and Addl PCCF Delhi Dr. Suneesh Buxy. Mr. Gupta concluded with the promise that from next year onwards, there will be more awards, not just for IFS officers but for other staff as well.
KNOW THE FIVE AWARDEES
Basu Kannogia – Award for Forest Protection
In the dense heartland of Madhya Pradesh, amidst the towering trees and elusive wildlife, there exists a fierce guardian, who fearlessly patrol the forested realms. Ms. Basu Kannogia, a 2010-batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, has earned the moniker of ‘Encroachment Eviction Specialist’ among her peers, owing to her relentless pursuit of forest mafia, illegal settlers, miners, and wildlife smugglers.
Ms. Kannogia, who is posted as DFO, North Seoni in Madhya Pradesh, has been on a relentless mission to combat the encroachment menace plaguing the lush landscapes of Madhya Pradesh. With an indomitable spirit and unyielding determination, she has spearheaded campaigns against unlicensed sale of trees, illegal settlements on forest lands, and other environmental infractions. Till now, she has successfully reclaimed over 7,000 hectares of encroached land, liberating these areas from the clutches of illegal occupiers.
To know more about her, read here: Threats Cannot Save Mafia and Encroachers from This Lady Singham Forest Officer
Dr. Mohan Ram – Award for Wildlife Conservation
Amidst the Gir Forest Wildlife Division in Sasan-Gir, Gujarat, Dr. Mohan Ram stands as a pioneering force driving technological innovation and biodiversity preservation. With an unwavering commitment and an astute understanding of ecological systems, Dr. Mohan has catalysed a significant transformation in the conservation and management of the Gir and the Greater Gir landscapes.
His implementation of various advanced methodologies has been instrumental in revolutionising wildlife conservation in the Gir region. One of the groundbreaking developments under Dr. Mohan’s leadership is the Carnivore Telemetry System, offering real-time alerts for animals like lions and leopards. This system is a game-changer, aiding in field management and providing critical data for scientific analysis.
Whereas the innovative SIMBA software, utilising AI and deep machine learning, acts as a unique identification system, aiding in individual recognition and long-term database maintenance.
Read more about him here: This IFS Officer is Leading Wildlife Tech & Biodiversity Revival in Gir Forest
Ritesh Sirothia – Award for Wildlife Protection
2017 batch officer Ritesh Sirothia, who is posted as Regional Deputy Director NR, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Delhi, has played a key role in busting gangs involved in illegal trade of wildlife and getting them the maximum punishment.
While posted in Madhya Pradesh as in-charge of Special Tiger Protection Force, he did exceptional work to safeguard the precious flora and fauna of the state. He nabbed few key players of gangs engaged in wildlife smuggling who were home delivering exotic species like the endangered red crowned roofed turtle.
He also took help from the Interpol to issue red corner notice against a wanted criminal and sent a team to Dhaka & Bangkok to collect further evidence and to execute warrants against him. Such is his zeal!
Read more about him here: Hunt for International Poachers Comes to a Decisive End
Biswajit Mishra – Award for Best Use of Technology for Conservation
Mr. Bishwajit Mishra, an officer of the 1998 batch and Karnataka cadre, is not just a public servant; he is a visionary whose commitment to transforming forest administration has set new standards in the field.
During his tenure as the head of the ICT wing of the Karnataka Forest Department for over five years, Mr. Mishra spearheaded numerous initiatives that focused on business process re-engineering. His efforts ushered in a wave of transparency, efficiency, and improved service delivery.
One of his outstanding contributions was the integration of the latest technology in forest protection, combating forest and wildlife crimes with innovative solutions, and leveraging intelligent systems for real-time monitoring.
Currently, he is posted as the CCF (CIT) in Bengaluru.
To know more about him, read: IFS Bishwajit Mishra: Revolutionizing Karnataka’s Forest Administration through Technology
Millo Tasser – Award for Community Connect
Conservator of Forests (HQ), Arunachal Pradesh, Mr. Millo Tasser, is not only known for promoting bird tourism but also for converting a hub of timber operations, the Singchung forests, into a shining example of community involvement in forest conservation.
The Singchung Sub-Division is predominantly inhabited by the Buguns, a Scheduled Tribe in Arunachal Pradesh. The Buguns are now actively engaged in forest protection and conservation. The conservation efforts focuses especially on Bugun Liocichla, a passerine bird discovered in the forests near Singchung village, a discovery that catalysed conservation activities in the area by the local community.
The same forests that were once a hub of timber operations where large-scale logging was rampant, became a protected area guarded fiercely by the Buguns who banned any form of hunting, tree felling, collection of Non-Timber Forest Produce, and entry into the reserve forest without permission.
Mr. Tasser’s community involved conservation initiative has become a learning model for Probationers of the Indian Forest Service who have been visiting Eaglenest Sanctuary and Singchung Bugun Village Community Reserve since 2014. He was presented with the Governor’s gold medal for his community led conservation initiative in 2018.
To know more about him, read: Turning Timber Contractors into Forest Protectors: The Arunachal Model of Community Reserve
A FITTING TRIBUTE TO FORESTER
After the presentation of the awards, the officers, and also Indian Masterminds staff, stood on stage for a photo op with the Union ministers. This was followed by a beautiful live display of sand art by noted sand artist Niteesh, who enthralled the gathering with his creative tribute to Indian Forest Service.
And, with this, the curtain came down on the 2023 Eco Warrior Awards night, and will remain so until it goes up again in 2024, with more awards and more awardees. Be prepared for more surprises!
