A total of about 1,400 forest personnel have so far attained martyrdom while safeguarding the nation’s forest wealth and wildlife, said the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) director general Ashwani Kumar. He was speaking at the commemoration of the national forest martyrs day at the Forest Research Institute here on Friday.
Kumar said that it was on this day in 1730 that over 360 people of Bishnoi tribe were killed in Khejarli, now in Rajasthan, when they had objected to the felling of Khejri trees by the king of Jodhpur.
Speaking on the occasion, the ICFRE deputy director general (Research) GS Goraya appreciated the efforts made by employees of the Forest Departments across various states in the country in conserving the forests.
Addressing the gathering, the additional secretary of Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Hem Pandey stressed on the need for utilisation of modern techniques for better management of forests. FRI director Savita recalled sacrifices made by forest personnel across the country while protecting forest and wildlife. The Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) director Vinod Kumar and employees from ICFRE, FRI, IGNFA and other institutes were also present on the occasion. The gathering also observed two minutes’ silence in respect on the occasion.