Uttar Pradesh Forest Personnel Skip Shooting Competition, Exposing Critical Training Gaps
In a revealing incident that underscores systemic issues, armed forest personnel in Uttar Pradesh recently skipped a three-day shooting competition organized by the Pilibhit district rifle club, which concluded on Tuesday. This absence occurred despite the club introducing a special category specifically for government officials to encourage participation.
Root Causes: Lack of Bullets and Inadequate Training Provisions
Officials have pointed to a fundamental problem: the absence of any provision for bullets for training purposes. This critical shortage has meant that armed forest personnel do not engage in mock drills or regular shooting practice, leaving them unprepared for real-world scenarios involving poachers and other threats.
Field director of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR), PP Singh, elaborated on the situation, stating, "Field staff responsible for protecting forests and wildlife from poachers and other criminals receive only a week's training in firearm operation at the time of recruitment. Firearms were allotted to the department in 2009-10, but no mock drills or shooting practice have been conducted since then."
Widespread Training Deficiencies Across the State
The issue extends beyond Pilibhit. Armed forest personnel across Uttar Pradesh, with the exception of the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve—which is temporarily staffed by Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel—have not undergone regular firearms training. This gap raises serious concerns about their effectiveness in wildlife protection and law enforcement duties.
Severe Staff Shortages Exacerbate the Problem
Compounding the training issues are significant staffing deficits. Official records reveal an overall staff shortfall of over 56% in PTR. Among forest guards, who serve as frontline wildlife protectors, the shortage is even more acute at 73%, with only 17 personnel in position against 64 sanctioned posts.
Government Plans to Address the Gaps
In response to these challenges, the state government is preparing to launch a comprehensive project aimed at addressing the identified gaps. Principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) Anuradha Vemuri confirmed this initiative, stating, "The plan will focus on training, modernization of arms and ammunition, and a roster-based transfer policy for personnel involved in wildlife protection."
This proposed project represents a critical step toward enhancing the capabilities of forest personnel, ensuring they are better equipped to safeguard Uttar Pradesh's rich biodiversity and combat illegal activities in forested areas.
