International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education
Editors: A/Prof John Lidstone, Queensland University of Technology and Prof Joseph P. Stoltman, Western Michigan University
Book Review Editor: Dr Sarah Witham Bednarz, Texas A & M University
Editorial Assistant: Donna Bennett, Australia
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Volume: 9 Number: 4 Page: 285–295
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Educating an Environmental Elite: The Training of the Indian Forest Service
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Kevin Hannam
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The Indian Forest Service is an elite environmental civil service and in this paper I analyse the current education and training which a member of the Indian Forest Service receives. Following a discussion
of my ethnographic research methodology, I demonstrate that the training of the Indian Forest Service instils a hierarchical, authoritarian culture which prevents the new, more sensitive forest policies
such as Joint Forest Management (JFM) from being implemented. The actual work that the forest officer is expected to undertake may have changed beyond recognition, but the recruitment and training methods
have not and remain more concerned with maintaining the esprit de corps of the service. Re-training courses for personnel are currently being held at the National Institute of Rural Development in Hyderabad
but many more are needed. I conclude by recommending that new Indian Forest Service probationers need to be taught less discipline and more social sensitivity in line with their changing role.
© Multilingual Matters 2001
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