The College of Forestry students in the Ponnampet in the Kodag district boycotted classes and on Friday they took a march that urged the forest department to make BSC (forestry) compulsory educational qualifications for appointment to ACF, RFO and RFO representatives. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Students of the College of Forestry Forestry in the Ponnampet in the Kodag district launched an indefinite strike that urged the government to make BSC (forestry) compulsory educational qualifications for the appointment of a forest assistant (ACF), Range Forest officers (RFO) and representatives of forest officers (dy. RFO).
Students who boycotted classes on Friday and marched to the local Tahsildar office submitted a memorandum. Later, they met a local MLA as a Ponnanna, who is also a legal advisor to the main minister, and expressed their suffering.
They threatened to continue their protest for an indefinite period under the auspices of the Association of Students and Graduates of Karnataka and plan to intensify their upset if the government does not admit its application for ‘extensive unemployment’ among forest graduates.
The student from the Association is already in Bengalur to meet the Minister of Forest Eshwar Khandre. Depending on his response, a decision will be taken on whether to decline or continue with the proposal to organize a joint demonstration in Bengalur together with students from the Forestry University in the Sirsi, Uttara Kannada and Iruvakki district in Shivamogg.
In 2003, the Karnataka government recognized the professional competence of BSC graduates (forestry) and reserved 50% for ACF and RFO. In 2012, the quota was increased to 75%, which recognized the importance of scientific forestry for sustainable forest management.
However, after the amendment to the Rules of the Forest Ministry recruitment in 2018, the quota for direct recruitment was returned to 50%, emphasized by representatives of the association.
The Association, which expressed concerns about the reduction, said that this step will negatively affect career prospects and professional recognition of forest graduates.
In order to ensure professional integrity and effective forest management, the association called on the government to make BSC (forestry) as the only competence to appoint ACF, RFO and RFO representatives, effectively increasing the reservation for forestry graduates to 100%.
“Only candidates with a professional forest title have specialized knowledge needed for sustainable forest and ecosystem management, and therefore it should not be considered eligible for these positions,” the statement issued by the Association said.
A representative of the Association said that every year it publishes about 120 students from three forest universities in the state. Like graduation in the series and fishing, the only criterion for appointment in the department of Serikulture and Fishing is, the forest department should also make BSC (forestry) compulsory educational qualifications for appointment in its department, emphasized.
Published – October 11, 2025 17:31
