Forum Accuses Forest Department of Bias Against Tribal Officers

Quick Summary

• Kerala Ullada Mahasabha has complained to the Kerala State Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes regarding alleged caste discrimination against tribal Forest Beat Officers (BFOs) by the state’s Forest Department.
• The institution claims that officials mark “special recruitment” (SR) next to tribal BFOs’ designations in an official document called the general diary, which it considers discriminatory.
• In April 2022, 500 tribal BFOs were appointed statewide through special recruitment, except in Alappuzha district.
• An order released on August 1, 2023, by Additional Principal Chief Forest Conservator P. Pukazhenthi clarified that while the recruitment process differs for tribal BFOs and non-tribal officers, service conditions are identical for all officers.
• Allegations have been raised against officials who supposedly violated this order and continued discriminatory practices by marking SR against names of tribal officers across Kerala. Copies of these marked documents were obtained through an RTI petition and submitted as evidence to the commission.
• Kerala Ullada Mahasabha has demanded government intervention to stop such practices; though,the forest intelligence wing reported receiving no formal complaints so far but promised a probe upon receipt of one.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The complaint highlights sensitive issues of caste discrimination within government institutions-a persistent challenge in India despite constitutional guarantees of equality and protection under law for Scheduled Castes and Tribes. If substantiated, it would underscore lapses in implementing inclusive workplace policies mandated by legal frameworks like special recruitment processes meant to empower disadvantaged communities such as tribals.

Alleging violation of prior orders ensuring equal service terms raises questions about accountability mechanisms within administrative bodies like Kerala’s Forest Department. Clarity from both parties will be crucial as this issue develops further due to its implications for broader inclusion efforts across sectors nationwide.

Given India’s diversity framework encouraging progressive representation without bias whether Investigating deeper systemic roots underlying tensions rather isolated procedural errors remains integral towards A fair resolution upto demostrably neutral institutional safeguard exposure stakes coudl here upto case demonstration unravel systematic resilience
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