21 IFS officers attend a training programme at Development Management Institute

DMI director Hemnath Rao H welcomed the participants at the training programme and said forest officers needed to be extra careful because of the accountability and responsibility they held.

Deputy chief minister (CM) Sushil Kumar Modi (SuMo) on Monday asked forest officers to be proactive while interacting with the media. 

“Even smaller accomplishments need to be brought to the notice of the media for wider circulation,” SuMo said while inaugurating a five-day training programme on ‘Art of Interacting with Print and Electronic Media’ organised by DMI - Development Management Institute on Monday.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the programme was attended by 21 officers of the Indian Forest Service from different parts of the country.

The deputy CM asked officials of the state environment, forest and climate change department to form a media cell. He said, “Media persons are your friends and their criticism should be used in a positive manner to improve yourself.”

SuMo also asked the Bihar government to conduct similar training programmes for officials of the state forest department and the local media persons. He said, “The department will provide information about its rules, laws and new guidelines to the journalists so that there is factual and correct reporting.”

Principal chief conservator of forests, SS Chaudhary, was also present at the training session as the guest of honour. He pointed out, “Although the forest cover in Bihar is less compared to its neighbouring states, more trees have been planted over the last few years here.”

DMI dean Niraj Kumar said, “This is for the first time that a training session on such an important subject is being organised for forest officers in the state. There will be a mock press conference on the last day of the programme where they will learn the nuances of media engagement.”

Disclaimer: This article has been published on the basis of a press communication by the college.