Development and Conservation Can Go Hand in Hand: Vice President
Dehradun: Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Wednesday addressed IFS probationers of the 2025–2027 batch and Royal Bhutan Forest Service officers undergoing training at IGNFA, Dehradun.
He said development and conservation are not opposing forces and can go hand in hand. He urged forest officers to balance ecological security, livelihoods, development and the interests of future generations.
Radhakrishnan emphasised the importance of traditional knowledge of forest-dependent communities and said modern scientific forestry must complement India’s civilisational wisdom for a sustainable future.
He also called for greater use of GIS, remote sensing, drones, AI and data-driven systems, while stressing integrity, field experience and sensitivity towards local communities.
Highlighting women’s participation, he noted that women constitute around 17 per cent of the current batch. He urged officers to measure their careers by the forests they restore, wildlife they protect and communities whose trust they earn, keeping “Rashtra Pratham” (Nation First) foremost.
Uttarakhand Governor Lt. General Gurmit Singh (Retd.), Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Himalayan Live Bureau
