Army146;s new front

Call in the army! This has become something of a battle-cry in situations where civil institutions have failed in their primary responsibilities. Riots and disasters have often seen such deployment and now, as The Sunday Express has just reported, it appears the Union government is convinced that the abysmal state of forest protection in the country requires the attention and involvement of the Indian army.

While this is by no means the ideal solution, we cannot but agree that a situation marked by a fragile forest resource base and an alarming disappearance of valuable animal species8212;particularly the flagship species of the tiger8212; demands a fail-proof remedy, even if it is one that may appear somewhat desperate. Given the stretched, apathetic even antagonistic forest bureaucracy, given the cash-strapped and understaffed forest protection regime, given the steady proliferation of poaching networks with international links, given the failure of innumerable civilian projects to address the crisis, it would be pragmatic to seek the services of the army for what is ultimately a national endeavour on which hinges India8217;s future well-being. Many army battalions are, in any case, already situated in the vicinity of forests and often animal trafficking outfits meld seamlessly with larger terrorist networks.

Several army personnel have, over the decades, proved to be keen amateur conservationists, studying the fauna and flora of the regions they have been stationed in. What is being proposed, however, is a more comprehensive and holistic interaction. Military men, trained to protect the geographical borders of the country, will have to learn how to secure its ecological borders, and acquaint themselves with the complex issues and principles involved. This understanding will have to start at the top, with the commanders who are now expected to conduct themselves as proxy wildlife wardens. If this radical and untried proposal is to work at all, it needs to be located in a meticulously detailed action framework.