SRINAGAR: B.Sc Forestry students in Jammu and Kashmir have sought government intervention to address what they describe as limited employment opportunities and unclear eligibility provisions for graduates of the professional course.
The students have urged the Jammu and Kashmir Government and recruitment agencies to review existing service and recruitment rules and ensure that Forestry graduates are considered for posts where their specialised academic training is relevant.
The issue, they said, has assumed significance as hundreds of students pursuing Forestry in the region face uncertainty over career opportunities despite completing a professional programme focused on forest and natural-resource management.
B.Sc Forestry covers specialised areas including Silviculture, Forest Management, Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation, Soil and Water Conservation, Forest Mensuration, Remote Sensing and GIS, Forest Protection, Forest Economics, Agroforestry, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Nursery and Plantation Management and Environmental Sciences.
Students said the training equips graduates for work related to forests, wildlife, biodiversity, watershed management, ecological restoration, plantations, environment and other natural-resource sectors.
However, they said the availability of corresponding government posts and clear eligibility provisions remains limited.
The students have specifically sought recognition of B.Sc Forestry as an eligible qualification for appropriate Forest Range Officer and other forestry-related posts, wherever the nature and requirements of the post permit.
They have also called for a review of recruitment rules in forest, wildlife, environment and allied departments to ensure that Forestry graduates are not excluded from posts for which their professional training is directly relevant.
Among their demands are regular creation of Forestry-specific vacancies through recruitment agencies, transparent eligibility criteria and opportunities in departments dealing with forests, wildlife, biodiversity, plantations, watershed management, GIS and remote sensing and natural-resource management.
For students pursuing the course on a self-financed basis, the issue also carries a financial dimension. A final-year student said families bear substantial expenses to fund the professional degree, with students expecting that the qualification would eventually provide them with a viable career.
The students said practical training, field visits and technical coursework form an important part of their education, but many remain uncertain about their employment prospects after graduation.
They have consequently called for a defined career pathway for Forestry graduates in Jammu and Kashmir, saying professional education should be accompanied by adequate and transparent employment opportunities.
“We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for recognition, equal opportunity and a fair chance to compete,” the students said.
The students have appealed to the government, concerned departments and recruitment authorities to examine the existing eligibility framework and consider appropriate measures to expand opportunities for qualified Forestry graduates.
They said Jammu and Kashmir’s forests and natural resources require trained human resources and that qualified Forestry graduates could contribute to their scientific management and conservation if suitable employment avenues are created.
