Governor Narasimhan recalled his days as Governor of Chattisgarh and how he came to understand that the Forest Guards were tasked with the protection of the forests and guard 10 Sq. KMs with only a lathi and a torchlight without batteries.
He told the officers that as they are not going to live in the forests, they should ensure that the forest guards are empowered to ensure proper protection of forests.
Governor told the officers that the challenges they face are very high in safeguarding the environment, wildlife, dealing with anti-national elements in forests.
Narasimhan said tree felling is big menace and is done on a large scale and many times it is a mafia which is operating in the forests. He recalled the example of tendu leaves collection in Chattisgarh which was taken out of the hands of mafia and middlemen by establishing linkages between government and tribal people.
Governor told the officers to utilise the forest produce, make the lives of tribals better and help the government in getting revenue. He said poaching is the game of the elitist and asked them to promote the development of forests, set up hospitals, schools and told them to come up with innovative ideas to improve the lives of tribal people as living conditions in forest areas are pathetic.
Narasimhan told officers to not to break the moral and ethics code. He told them to develop core values which are not negotiable and that professional integrity, morality and ethics should be the hallmark of their careers.
