111 forest officers graduate in IGNFA's largest 21st-century batch
The convocation ceremony held at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun, had former Supreme Court judge and current National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairman, Justice V Ramasubramanian, as chief guest. Midhunmohan SB from Kerala received the Topper of the Batch award. The highest number of probationers was from Madhya Pradesh (17), followed by Uttar Pradesh (12) and Gujarat (6). IIT graduates Pranali Ramesh Umare, Rajat Suman, and Aditya Ratna joined the Uttarakhand cadre.
Addressing the officers, the chief guest urged them to uphold integrity, ecological responsibility, and constitutional values as they embark on their professional journey. He shared multiple anecdotes from history books and religious scriptures.
Reminding the young officers that they have joined 'service, not employment', he said, "Swami Vivekananda said I hold every man a traitor, who, having been educated at the expense of the masses, pays not the least heed to them.
You have become an all-India service officer and not an employee. Our ancestors made a very clear distinction between people who take up jobs, who go for employment, and the people who enter service.
"
Indicating the importance of ensuring a worthy career graph, he added, "Today, as an officer, you might be experiencing a sense of achievement at your convocation ceremony, but during your service period, you will have to perform in a manner that gives you a sense of fulfilment at the time of retirement."
Meanwhile, director of the academy, Jagmohan Sharma, said that is the first batch to pass out after the change in the training course pattern in 2023, after which it included an enhanced focus on artificial intelligence and climate change, among others.
Incidentally, President Droupadi Murmu, who was chief guest at the convocation in April 2024, had indicated revising the IGNFA training curriculum with the changing climate and its effects on the planet. TOI had highlighted the President's piece of advice and concern that reverberated in her speech to the young officers at the IGNFA.
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