Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 03 March 2025
The Passing Out Ceremony of the 52nd Batch of Forest Guards of the Department of Environment & Forests was held on 28th February 2025, at the Forest Training Institute, Wimberlygunj. The ceremony marked the successful completion of six months of basic forestry training for 19 newly recruited Forest Guards.
Mr. Sanjay Kumar Sinha, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Chief Wildlife Warden, A&N Islands, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. He inspected the Guard of Honour presented by the trainees and awarded medals and course completion certificates to the successful candidates.
In his convocation address, Mr. Sinha expressed his satisfaction with the completion of the 52nd Batch’s training and urged the new Forest Guards to uphold sincerity, honesty, and professionalism in their duties. He emphasised the importance of protecting and conserving the Islands’ rich natural resources and encouraged them to stay updated with new technologies and developments in forestry and allied fields.
Mr. Ravi Horo, IFS, Addl. PCCF (Planning & Development), attended as the Guest of Honour. He highlighted the crucial role of Forest Guards in the department and urged them to act as the true representatives of the forest administration. He also stressed the importance of coordination with Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and the general public for effective forest management.
Dr. S. Dinesh Kannan, IFS, CCF (Research & Working Plan)-cum-Chairperson of the Forest Training Institute, welcomed the gathering. The event saw the presence of senior officers from the Forest Department, other governmental departments, scientific institutions, PRI members, local officials, and the families of the trainees.
During the ceremony, Mr. A. C. Tilak, Director of the Forest Training Institute, presented the course report and batch results. Ms. Indu Nikhil, Forest Guard, emerged as the topper of the batch and was awarded the Gold Medal for overall excellence in both theoretical and practical sessions.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Raju Rathour, Instructor at the Forest Training Institute. (Story Based on PR)