Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presenting the Forest Medal to an officer at a ceremony held at the Forest Headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday
In a significant move to recognise the contribution of forest personnel, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that forest medals will be distributed alongside police, excise and fire force awards on Independence Day in the coming years.
The announcement was made during the Forest Medal distribution ceremony for the year 2023-2024, held at the Forest Headquarters on Saturday.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister emphasised the importance of forest conservation and highlighted the need for a balance between human settlements and forest areas. “While forest conservation is of utmost importance, we must ensure that areas where people live are not alienated simply because they were once forests,” he remarked.
Citing figures from the Forest Survey of India, the Chief Minister affirmed that Kerala’s forest conservation efforts have been effective and progressive. He also acknowledged the courageous efforts of forest guards, particularly recalling the heroic image of forest officials who risked their lives to rescue a tribal family trapped in a landslide in Wayanad.
Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran presided over the function.
Published – January 04, 2025 11:28 pm IST
