Forest & Climate Change Department Receives Two Honors in Chief Minister’s Excellence Awards

Raipur, January 2026 : The Forest & Climate Change Department of Chhattisgarh has been awarded two prestigious recognitions under the Chief Minister’s Excellence Awards for the year 2025–26. The department received these honors for the exemplary implementation of two key, innovation-driven initiatives: FDS 2.0 (e-Kuber Digital Payment System) and the Wildlife (Elephant) Tracking & Alert System.

FDS 2.0 (e-Kuber Digital Payment System): Transparency and Speed in Payments

FDS 2.0 is a modern digital payment system that connects all financial activities of the Forest Department directly to the e-Kuber platform. With this system, the entire payment process has become fully digital, increasing transparency, reducing human error, and speeding up payments for works, schemes, and staff. This innovation has enhanced administrative efficiency and simplified citizen-related payment operations, ensuring timely and accurate disbursements.

Wildlife (Elephant) Tracking & Alert System: Mitigating Human–Elephant Conflicts

Developed by the Forest Department, this system uses advanced technology to monitor elephant movements in real-time. It sends timely alerts to communities living near forest areas, providing early warnings of potential threats. As a result, human–elephant conflicts have been significantly reduced, strengthening both wildlife conservation and community safety. The system makes wildlife management more scientific, secure, and citizen-focused.

Leadership and Teamwork at the Core

The department’s leadership played a crucial role in these achievements. Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap congratulated all departmental officials for this accomplishment. Notably, the guidance of ACS Smt. Richa Sharma, PCCF & HoFF Shri Srinivas Rao, PCCF (Wildlife) Shri Arun Pandey, and officers Smt. Shalini, Smt. Satovisha, and Shri Varun, along with their focus on innovation and execution, was commendable. The entire departmental team collaboratively implemented these initiatives, resulting in two major recognitions for the department.

A New Direction for Good Governance and Innovation

These awards under the Chief Minister’s Excellence Program highlight the Forest Department’s continuous progress toward transparent governance, technology-based solutions, citizen-centered services, and effective wildlife management. This achievement reinforces the department’s commitment to prioritizing good governance, innovation, and public welfare in Chhattisgarh.