RFOs appeal
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 17 2019:
Stating that directly recruited Range Forest Officers (RFOs) who have rendered service for more than thirty years are not yet promoted and some have even retired without getting a single promotion due to the small number of cadre strength in Manipur Forest Service Grade-I and II, All Manipur Range Forest Officers' Association (AMRFOA) has appealed the State Government to issue a special order for renaming RFOs as Junior Manipur Service Grade III and also increase the sanction strength of MFS Selection Grade to 4 posts, MFS Grade I to 14 posts and MFS Grade II to 36 posts.
Apart from conducting Government's flagship programmes like "Go to Hills", "Go to Village", etc, the works of RFOs include protection of forest and wildlife, reduction of jhum cultivation, giving awareness, enforcement of several forest and wildlife Acts and Rules etc, said a statement of AMRFOA.
Asserting that directly recruited Manipur Forest Service Grade II (ACF) are getting at least three to five promotions in their career, Indian Forest Service Officers allotted to Manipur cadre are promoted to Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) within three years and Sub Deputy Collector in Revenue Department are promoted to Manipur Civil Service Grade II within five to six years of service, it added that the morale of Range Forest Officers is seriously affected due to the disparity.
It also said that directly recruited MFS Grade II officers are not yet eligible for promotion to seven to eight vacancies in the IFS (promotion quota) and urged the State Government to consider all the directly recruited RFOs who are promoted to ACF or still in the Grade of RFOs, who are below 56 years, as feeder posts for conferring IFS for the State as a one time measure.