The Human Resource Committee of the Agriculture Ministry issued an excess staff deployment order to its seven forest rangers working under Thimphu Forest Division more than a month ago. As per the order, the seven foresters were identified as excess staff and were asked to be re-deployed in other agencies across the country. But unhappy with the order, they appealed to the agriculture secretary yesterday.
The agriculture secretary rejected their appeal since the order was issued based on the findings of the Organisational Development (OD) exercise for the ministry, which was carried out recently.
An OD exercise was recommended by the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC). The system looks at how civil servants are optimally engaged to eliminate duplication of responsibilities among them.
During an OD exercise, the seven forest rangers were marked as excess staff since projects in which they were working, had to be closed.
The projects are the Samarzhingkha Agro-forestry project, Ludrong Memorial Garden, Royal Takin Reserve, Sawmills and Kuenselphodrang Park projects in Thimphu.
Foresters claimed the excess staff deployment order to be unfair and handed to them without any prior notice during the lockdown.
“About my transfer, RCSC issued the redeployment order. We were told that our project will be closed. But we did not receive any official letter concerning the closure and we do not fall under redeployment,” said Jigme Chhoden, Forest Ranger at Samazingkha Agro-forestry Project in Thimphu.
Like her, some other forest rangers showed resentment over the order.
“Since I am told that being transferred and have issued redeployment order and told us our project will be closed for now. I am not happy with the redeployment order. The order did not follow proper criteria and guidelines,” said Shacha Lhamo, Senior Forest Ranger, Samazingkha Agro-forestry Project in Thimphu.
The Chief Forestry Officer of the Department of Forests and Park Services said foresters are being redeployed to other agencies where they can fully utilise their responsibilities.
“We cannot retain their posts anymore and they were identified as excess staff. So they were redeployed to different agencies across the country. We are not chucking them out. According to the OD exercise, these projects do not fall under four ranges in Thimphu and their positions were no longer required,” continued Chief Forestry Officer, Gyeltshen Drukpa.
The foresters had also appealed to the department’s director on health grounds. They also verbally requested the RCSC to consider their appeal and keep them in the current workplace in Thimphu.
However, the RCSC maintained its stand firmly and said they have to follow the order.
Choni Dema
Edited by Pema Lhaden
