The Indian Institute of Management Nagpur successfully conducted a five-day residential Executive Education Programme titled “Training of Master Trainers on Effective Communication Skills for Frontline Foresters of Maharashtra” in collaboration with the Forest Department, Government of Maharashtra. The programme was spearheaded by Program Directors Prof. Anoop Kumar and Prof. Deepmala Baghel.
This initiative brought together 27 selected Officers at the DFO, ACF, and RFO levels, nominated by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HoFF), Maharashtra. The officers were designated as Master Trainers and underwent intensive training designed to strengthen their communication skills. Upon getting trained, the Master Trainers will play a pivotal role in cascading the training at the forest circle level, targeting frontline foresters who are instrumental in afforestation, biodiversity conservation, and enforcement of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, and other related environmental regulations.
The programme curriculum was crafted to enhance various aspects of communication, with key focus areas including verbal and non-verbal communication, emotional intelligence, active and reflective listening, crisis behavior understanding, stakeholder trust-building, interpersonal skills, team management, and conflict resolution, among others. The program participants were sensitized to the importance of engaging effectively with civil society, NGOs, community leaders, and office bearers to ensure sustainable forest governance.
The programme commenced with inauguration by Smt. Shomita Biswas, IFS (1988 batch), PCCF & Head of Forest Force, Maharashtra. She was joined by Prof. Prashant Gupta, Dean of Faculty Affairs and Alumni Affairs, IIM Nagpur. The keynote address was delivered by Shri Pravin Pardeshi, Chief Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and CEO of MAITRA, who spoke on the importance of effective communication with diverse social and interest groups involved in forestry and wildlife conservation.
Throughout the week, participants benefitted from engaging sessions facilitated by IIM Nagpur faculty and subject matter experts and senior officers from the Indian Forest Service. Esteemed speakers included Shri Sunil Limaye, Shri N.B. Majumdar, Shri Ravindra Wankhede, Shri K. Kalyan Kumar, Shri Rakesh Ranjan, and Smt. Sreelaxmi. The different sessions provided deep insights into real-world communication challenges and leadership dynamics within the forest department.
Dr. Bhimaraya Metri, Director of IIM Nagpur interacted with the participants, followed by a networking dinner to encourage informal exchanges and collaboration. The valedictory session featured an address by Shri Rahul Pande, Senior Journalist and Chief Information Commissioner, who shared his perspectives on transparency and media communication.
The program concluded with presentations from five participant groups, who showcased their learnings through detailed case studies and reports on communication challenges within the department. Participants unanimously expressed high levels of satisfaction with the training and its practical relevance to their roles.
This initiative marks a significant step in empowering the frontline leadership of the Maharashtra Forest Department with the skills needed for effective public engagement and sustainable resource management.
