Bhubaneswar, Aug 5: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday urged forest officials to approach their duties with compassion, particularly when dealing with tribal and local communities residing in forest regions.
Addressing the Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) at a state-level conference in Bhubaneswar, the Chief Minister underscored the significance of empathy in governance. Nearly one-fourth of our population belongs to tribal communities who live in and around forest areas. It is the government's moral responsibility to ensure their safety and provide a conflict-free environment,” he stated.
Majhi emphasized that forest officers frequently engage with economically disadvantaged groups, including tribals and Dalits. He encouraged them to approach such interactions with understanding, especially while implementing forest protection laws.
In a unique move aimed at mitigating human-elephant conflicts, the Chief Minister proposed cultivating paddy within forest zones to deter elephants from straying into human settlements in search of food. He expressed optimism that such initiatives would help reduce fatalities and property damage caused by such encounters.
Stressing the importance of ecological conservation, Majhi called for robust efforts not only in tree plantation but also in the protection, nurturing, and expansion of green cover. He lauded the department’s initiatives in curbing poaching and forest fires but insisted that full success must be the goal.
“To achieve 100 percent effectiveness in preventing poaching and forest fires, adoption of advanced technologies and widespread public awareness campaigns is essential,” Majhi said. He also urged collaboration with civil society organisations and citizen safety forums in forest conservation efforts.
