Dil Se : Rakesh Mohan Dobriyal living the ultimate dream of a forester

One has to pay a heavy price to achieve dreams in their entirety.The challenges become even more formidable when a person, despite having the requisite passion and dedication, has to make do with limited resources and go against odds.

Rakesh Mohan Dobriyal, IFS, Telangana’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, is the quintessence of an accomplished bureaucrat who is living the ultimate life of a forester. With a string of achievements over 35 years of his exemplary service in the Forest Department, Rakesh Mohan Dobriyal tells The Pioneer’s Deepika Pasham: “Dedication, passion of the forest officer can produce the desired results and help overcome challenges relating to working with wildlife, preserving forests, and providing employment or otherwise involving local tribes.”

Self-learning during early childhood

I come from a remote area called Cheppaldungi in a village in Uttarakhand. My schooling was in a nearby Government Primary School. Those days we used to have a ‘party’ where we lighted carbon with oil and put a wooden plank on it to make it shine. Then we use to collect whitish soil, mix it with water, and then dip wooden pens in it to write. We resorted to these self-learning activities as the resources were limited.  Then from third class we got our books.

Son of a retired Army officer

I later studied in a Junior High School that was established by my father, who had retired as an Army officer. My father was in the British Army and very passionate about education. He initially ran this school on private basis. Later, it was converted to a government institution. Now, it has a college also.

My introduction to IFS

Although I knew that I was very close to nature, the thought of getting into forest service struck me first when my professor in Botany, Zoology and Chemistry course Prof Vinod Uniyal got it into IFS.I later saw that the entire town had assembled for giving him a farewell. Then I understood that this portfolio is important and I need to pursue it.

Another reason is my passion for Nature. I am attached to Nature and respect it.  I keep interacting with the Professor, though he retired from Kerala as PCCF and lives in Dehradun now.

Professors led my way

Another Chemistry Professor permitted me to study in college for IFS and I cracked the exam in my first attempt because of the knowledge and access to library for material provided by them. They shaped me as a human being also.

Tough times

Our days of working then were very difficult because we had naxalite movements. Our headquarters being shifted to Manuguru, it was the most difficult part of our service.  Although they never interfered in our work, they created problems for our staff. Now it is easy to work in interior places of forests as it is much more peaceful.

Diverse fields

I have worked in Bhadrachalam, Warangal and Begampally. I have worked in the agriculture and horticulture sectors. I was in the Secretariat too. I was in-charge Vice Chancellor. I also served during the Chandrababu Naidu regime.  All this helped me in understanding the roles of other departments and sectors.

A list of challenges

We are now working on protecting interior areas. We are looking at what best we can do for wildlife, how we can involve the local people in work. The task is related to Podu lands. I am focused on pushing ecotourism as it is the best area to implement ideas. Another area is man-animal conflicts, as tiger breeding is being observed. We are working on providing the habitats so that we control such incidents.

No decrease in tiger population

The information being spread that there has been a reduction in the TS tiger count is false. Everyone is appreciating us for the work we are doing. Currently there are 24 to 26 tigers in Amrabad. We noticed one tiger with cubs in Adilabad. The reason we don’t disclose the details is that people become panicky and sometimes there is the possibility of poaching the tigers.We are cautious about the count because tiger is top most in the food pyramid.
Another focus area of the Forest Department is establishing urban forest parks and we have around 109 of them.

Accomplishments

In 2014, our State got divided and in 2016 I was made in-charge of the Telanganaku Haritha Haram initiative. I have been doing the needful for the past eight years.

This is a major work for my profile because we planted 270 crore plants. Everybody is complimenting the resultant greenery, with the green cover increasing by 7.7 per cent.  For past seven to eight months, I have been helming initiatives launched by the Forest Department. As part of providing employment to locals, I have trained the first batch of local youth, including Chenchu tribal boys.

Another major work that is ready to begin is relocation of villages from the core area of the Kawal Tiger Reserve, Nirmal, Telangana. Two villages are being relocated with an outlay of Rs 21.20 cr. It is my pride.As a forester, I could protect and nurture these 129 patches of forests in and around Hyderabad, accounting for over 1.60 lakh acres.
Continuous efforts are being made to increase the number of tigers. Keep in view ecotourism and lung  space, we have already established 109 urban parks.  

Migration was part of my studies

My father was familiar in the village. He gave me every bit of information that I required because of the limited resources available for studying. So, I went to another school from 7th standard. This process of migration continued. I shifted places for my 9th and 10th. For Intermediate, I first entered a proper town and it went on.

IFS at 22
I  was a gold medalist in Botany subject in my post-graduation. Later, there was a vacuum as to what I should do. I was then 21 years old. Then, with all their encouragement, I prepared and wrote the exam in 1986 and got into service in 1987. I have completed more than 35 years of service.

 First posting

After training, we were assigned our places for service and mine was Paloancha in Khammam. I remember my family telling me ‘Oh! Is it South, then it must be Madras’ because all we knew in South was Madras. But my elder brother knew that I will be working in Khammam. I still remember my big trunk in Academy with my name written on it. My first post was Sub Divisional Forest Officer in Khammam.

Family bond

I have four brothers and four sisters. I am more attached to my elder brother as he had assisted me for my education. They all will be coming to my elder son’s marriage (shortly).
My marriage was an arranged one. We did know each other as she is from a relative’s family. I have two sons; the elder one has completed B Tech from BITS Pilani and the second one is pursuing LLM in Washington University

Longing for the hills

I have been to many places such as Canada, the Philippines, USA and Thailand. But I always long for the hills and verdure because I hail from a hilly place. I desire to visit my native place but due to time constraints I travel rarely.

 Suggestions for young IFS

One must decide on what they can contribute to society before entering the service. Employment is one thing, but let me tell you I was the happiest to enter this service because this was my passion.Youngsters have awareness now and opportunities as well as scope to work on any of the areas. If one is not working in the area of their interest, then the output would be less. I push them in training by explaining the larger areas such as climate change related to forest. New technologies are being used in forests. Wildlife is a very interesting area to work on.

Rapid fire

Describe yourself : Honest and Hardworking forester
Nick name: Rakki
Favorite actor: Amitabh Bachchan
Favorite food: Vegetarian — Paneer and Mushroom
Favorite colour : Maroon
Religious or spiritual: Spiritual

Free time

I usually work 16 to 18 hours in a day and the moment I enter home, it is peaceful because of the bond I and my wife share. Then I have a large rooftop garden. I grow all the leafy and normal vegetables.  Maintaining those plants and sitting down among greenery is peaceful. I do not buy vegetables from outside other than onions.