Delhi forest dept employees get khaki dress, badge

New Delhi: Forest and wildlife department personnel in Delhi will now be dressed in Khaki shirts and pants and will always carry a baton in the field. The city government notified the uniform dress code for the staff of the Forests and Wildlife Department on Thursday after four employees — including a deputy range officer and two wildlife guards — were injured in an attack by bootleggers in the Asola Wildlife Sanctuary. Officials said the dress will provide the staff identity and improve law enforcement. “Since the staff did not have a badge or a uniform, it was very difficult to ensure compliance. People would challenge their authority and even threaten them in some cases,” a forest department official said. “Thursday’s incident is just an example of the challenges forest and wildlife department personnel face. At times, they have to engage with rowdy elements, smugglers and criminals,” he said. Environmentalist Bhavreen Kandhari said the uniform, which has its own strength, will boost the confidence of the department’s staff. “Even the resident welfare associations do not take tree officers seriously without a dress or an identity card,” she said. Kandhari had in April filed a petition before the Supreme Court demanding that the field staff be provided with appropriate weapons, uniforms, vehicles and other ancillary logistical support to ensure protection in the line of duty. Under the new dress code, forests, wildlife inspectors and forest rangers will wear a peak cap with a black ribbon around it affixing letters DFW (Department of Forests and Wildlife) made of white metal. Whereas, forest and wildlife guards will don a khaki felt hat and carry a whistle.