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Ponnampet: On Sunday, February 25, A S Ponnanna, the Legal Advisor to the Chief Minister of Karnataka and the Virajpet MLA, met the students of Forestry College in Ponnampet, Kodagu district. These students have been on strike for 17 days.
The students are advocating for the 100% recruitment of BSc Forest Graduates in the forest department. During his visit, Mr. Ponnanna addressed the students and assured them that he would take prompt and appropriate measures to resolve the issue.
A student member of the Karnataka Forestry Graduates and Students Association said, "The Karnataka government introduced 50% reservation for the position of Assistant Conservator of Forests and Zonal Forest Officer in 2003. In 2012, the reservation for Zonal Forest Officer was increased to 75%. However, the new draft rules proposed in 2018 under the Karnataka Forest Department Services Amendment Rules suggest reducing the reservation for direct recruitment of BSc Forest Science graduates to the post of Zonal Forest Officer from 75% to 50%. We demand that this be increased back to 100%.”
Another student said, "After five years of hard work to complete our course, we are still unable to secure government positions. Most of us are still unemployed. We don't know what to do now? It is unfair for the government to ignore us in the employment process. We are left with no choice but to protest.”
The students urged the government to set B.Sc as the minimum qualification for Group A, Forest Conservator, Group B, and Group C positions, advocating for justice for B.Sc graduates.
On February 23, Pratap Simha, the Member of Parliament representing Kodagu-Mysuru, and K. G. Bopaiah, the former MLA of Virajpet, had visited the protesting students.
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