The South Sagar Forest Division has taken a significant initiative to empower youth living in forest-rich areas by providing them with better livelihood opportunities. Under the guidance of Chief Conservator of Forests Sagar and Ripudaman Singh, the South Sagar Forest Division, in collaboration with Tata Motors and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), conducted employment and skill development programs, providing jobs to over 200 youth and connecting hundreds with employment-oriented training.
Pre-training awareness and counseling programs were organized across all ranges of the Forest Division to prepare youth from forest and rural areas for the needs of industry. Approximately 1,600 youth participated in these programs and gained information about employment and skill development schemes.
Following the recruitment process, over 200 selected youth were presented with appointment letters by Lata Wankhede, Member of Parliament from Sagar-Vidisha Parliamentary Constituency. Probationary IFS officerJai Prakash played a key role in the coordination and planning of this initiative. He received active support from IFS officer Swastik Yadavvanshi and the entire team of the South Sagar Forest Division.
Under the “Learn and Earn” program, inspired by the late Ratan Tata, 24 youth, including three girls, have been selected for a three-year diploma course in Sanand, Gujarat. During the training, all trainees are provided a stipend of Rs 17,000 per month, empowering them financially along with their education.
Similarly, 36 youth received training in L&T’s skills training program. All those who completed the training have secured employment with a minimum salary of ₹20,500 per month. This initiative is considered a significant achievement in providing respectable employment to youth in forest areas.
Along with forest conservation, the Forest Department is also prioritizing skill development, employment generation, and economic empowerment for youth living in forest-dominated areas. This model, which aims to empower youth by providing training and employment opportunities in collaboration with industries, can serve as an inspiration for other forest divisions.
