New Delhi: In a historic milestone, the Indian Forest Service Association has elected its first all-women executive team. Their leadership brings a rich blend of on-ground conservation, administrative expertise, and policy innovation.
The newly elected leadership team comprises distinguished officers–
- Jyotsna Sitling – Patron
- Anita Karn (1997 batch, Gujarat cadre) – President
- Monalisa Dash (2003 batch, Sikkim cadre) – Secretary General
- Dr. Surbhi Rai (2005 batch) – Joint Secretary
- Suveena Thakur (2014 batch, HP cadre) – Treasurer
- Chestha Singh (2018 batch) – Literary Secretary
Here’s an in-depth look at each officer’s journey and impact-
Jyotsna Sitling (1987 batch; first tribal woman IFS officer) Patron
Ms Sitling holds the distinction of being the first tribal woman to join the Indian Forest Service (IFS), entering service in 1987. As Director of Nanda Devi National Park from 2002–2004, she led the removal of 44 tonnes of waste from the Valley of Flowers, implementing community-led conservation which paved the way for its UNESCO inscription in 2005. Awarded both the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar and the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration, her leadership extends to livelihood integration, watershed protection, and gender-sensitive policy in Uttarakhand. Today, she continues to influence environment governance through policy reform.
Anita Karn (1997 batch, Gujarat cadre) President
Ms Karn joined the IFS in 1997 and rose through Gujarat’s forest management ranks. In Gir Sanctuary, she pioneered a unique gender-inclusive model by deploying 51 women forest guards and 44 women foresters, boosting local human resources in wildlife protection. Her tenure as Additional PCCF (Research & Training) and Chief Conservator of Forests in Kutch is noted for innovation in capacity-building and community outreach. Recognised for advocacy and administrative excellence, she was subsequently chosen as President of the IFS Association – signaling her leadership on policy reform and institutional development.
Monalisa Dash (2003 batch, Sikkim cadre) Secretary General
Monalisa Dash is a 2003-batch IFS officer from Sikkim with a multidisciplinary academic background (MSc, MPhil, LLB). Serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of AYUSH and earlier in DoNER, she champions traditional medicine, North‑East development policies, and flagship schemes like PM‑DevINE and SoNEC. Her tenure in the Ministry of Home Affairs included major roles in CAPF welfare, police modernization, UN peacekeeping, and welfare digitization – impacting over 35 lakh personnel. She was also entrusted with additional charge as Managing Director at IMPCL, strengthening India’s herbal pharmaceutical industry and regional development links.
Dr. Surabhi Rai (2005 batch, AGMUT cadre) Joint Secretary
A 2005-batch AGMUT cadre IFS officer, Dr Rai currently serves as Deputy Inspector General of Forests in the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change. Known for her role in technical strategy and ecosystem governance, she also functions as Officer on Special Duty to the Director General of Forests. Her work spans capacity-building, conservation across diverse landscapes, and forestry policy execution under the Central Staffing Scheme – affirming her role at the intersection of ecology and administration.
Suveena Thakur (2014 batch, Himachal Pradesh cadre) Treasurer
Ms Thakur, a 2014-batch IFS officer from the Himachal Pradesh cadre, serves as Assistant Inspector General of Forests, MoEF&CC, New Delhi (deputed since November 2020). She handles critical portfolios in forestry finance, silviculture, and human-wildlife conflict mitigation. Her administrative work is known for blending field knowledge with policy execution, especially in the context of climate-resilient forestry solutions and stakeholder collaboration within environmentally sensitive zones.
Chestha Singh (2018 batch) – Literary Secretary
Ms Singh, a 2018-batch AGMUT officer and IIT Kanpur alumna, cracked the Indian Forest Service exam without formal coaching. She authored Kamlang Tiger Reserve – At a Glance and contributes actively as Literary Secretary of the IFS Association, promoting knowledge-sharing among officers. Known for her academic rigor and cross-disciplinary fluency, she represents the new generation of IFS officers bridging science, literature, and conservation culture.
Collective Strength
This all-women executive team exemplifies depth, domain expertise, and inclusive leadership—marking a transformative moment in forest governance. From tribal representation to technical authority and regional equity, their collective strength sets a powerful precedent for public administration and environmental policy in India.
