Forestry students go on indefinite strike in Madikeri
Staff Correspondent
Madikeri: The students of the College of Forestry in Ponnampet resorted to an indefinite strike at the college premises on Monday demanding 100 reservation of jobs for them in the forest department.
According to information received here, rallying under the name of Karnataka State Forest Science Graduates and Students Association, the students sat in a dharna at the main gate of the college. They wanted only forestry graduates to be posted as Assistant Conservators of Forests (ACFs) and Range Forest Officers (RFOs). Students of the College of Forestry at Sirsi too have joined the strike, according to student leader Mohamad Shafi and a forestry graduate Mayur, who are leading the strike at Ponnampet.
The students shouted slogans against the Government and demanded that it consider forestry graduation as the minimum qualification for filling the posts of ACFs and RFOs. Mr. Shafi alleged that the Government was neglecting the forestry graduates and resorting to direct recruitment. If the State Government did not respond to the demands of the students, they would intensify their strike, he warned. The students have been pressing the Government to fulfil their demand over the last few years, but to no avail, he added. He said a meeting held last year involving Law Minister Suresh Kumar, Primary Education Minister Vishweshwara Hegade Kageri, senior forest officials and Deans of the two Forestry Colleges (Ponnampet and Sirsi), had agreed to reserve 80 percent of the posts of ACFs and RFOs for the forestry graduates. But the Government did not fulfil its assurances, he alleged.
Sources in the College of Forestry said that the new Forest Minister Vijayashankar needed some time to devote attention to the matter.
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