A two-week master trainer development programme for forest officers from across the country began at the Central Academy for State Forest Service (CASFoS) on Monday. The programme which will conclude on February 20 is part of the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) project on capacity building of forest management and training of personnel.
About 10 officers across ranks in the Forest Department who had earlier been selected as potential master trainers during the first phase of this capacity building project are attending the programme. Chairing the inaugural ceremony, additional PCCF, Regional Office, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Ajay Kumar spoke on the history of the project since it’s inception.
Director, Forest Education, MP Singh congratulated the participants on their selection as potential master trainers and commended the efforts of all the stakeholders like the MoEFCC, State Governments, JICA, DFE and CASFoS over the last 4–5 years. CASFoS principal N Sonzalian also expressed his views. Abhijit Ghose, Team leader and Consultant (Forestry) to the Central Project Management Unit (CPMU), JICA threw light on the human resource situation in forest departments of the country and the important role the master trainers can play in uplifting the forest training scenario in the states.