Nagpur: The ministry of defence (MoD) has shot down a proposal by the state forest department to use Indian Army ranks for its
Green Army volunteers.
On July 10, 2018, principal secretary (forest) Vikas Kharge had sent a proposal to the ministry of defence to use Indian Army ranks for Maharashtra Harit Sena (Green Army) for achievers as Green General, Green Lieutenant General, Green Major General, Green Brigadier, Green Colonel, Green Major etc
However, the defence ministry in its reply to Kharge on August 2, states, “The matter has been examined and as the dignity and valour of Indian Army is also signified by the military ranks, the same cannot be compromised in any case, and hence the Maharashtra government’s proposal cannot be acceded to.”
Principal chief conservator of forests (head of forest force) UK Agrawal said according to the National Forest Policy, 33% of the state's geographical area should be under forest cover, it is 20% now. “The government's intention to implement 50 crore plantation programme in three years is a step in that direction. “For this, state set up Green Army to mobilize manpower,” he added.
“The basic idea for using Indian Army nomenclature was to motivate the people joining it. The ranks were to be awarded to celebrities and people doing good work on plantation at all levels. We have 52 lakh people registered under Green Army and plan to make it 1 crore,” said Agrawal.
Agrawal said, take for example legendry actor Amitabh Bachchan. “If the actor is decorated as a ‘Green General’, then volunteers joining the Green Army would feel motivated that they are working under him. The basic idea of green force is to make available opportunity to every citizen to conserve forests and wildlife.”
Agrawal said the ranks were to be given to volunteers depending on their contribution at village, taluka, and district levels.
Sources said now that the defence ministry has shot down the proposal, an idea is being floated to give such volunteers the post of green divisional commissioner, green collector, green tehsildar etc.
