The Aryavarth Express
Dehradun (Uttarakhand), April 13:
Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi has donated over ₹3 lakh—equivalent to his pending tour allowances for 447 days of official fieldwork—to the Uttarakhand Chief Minister Relief Fund.
In a letter dated April 4 to the Head of Forest Force (HoFF), with a copy to the Chief Minister’s Office, Chaturvedi detailed that the allowances were accrued over nearly nine years, from December 2016 to August 2025, and had never been claimed. He requested that the full amount be transferred directly to the relief fund.
Chaturvedi stated that his work in conserving Uttarakhand’s rich biodiversity has been the most fulfilling reward, outweighing any financial benefits.
As per government norms, officers on official tours outside their headquarters are entitled to daily allowances and other charges to cover expenses. However, Chaturvedi chose to forgo these benefits despite undertaking extensive field visits across remote and challenging terrains.
His tours included treks to some of the state’s most inaccessible regions such as Milam Glacier, Har ki Doon, Mana Pass, Nelong Valley, Panchachuli Base Camp, Tapovan, Hemkund Sahib, Valley of Flowers, and Lipulekh, among others.
During his tenure, he also played a key role in setting up 25 plant conservation centres and led efforts to revive endangered Himalayan plant species like Himalayan Gentian, Himalayan White Lily, and Takil Palm. His work extended to the conservation of threatened wildlife species including the Himalayan Marmot, Flying Squirrel, King Cobra, and Finn’s Weaver.
Chaturvedi’s contributions have previously been recognised by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, former Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, and senior forest officials.
This is not the first instance of his philanthropic efforts. In the past, he has donated his Ramon Magsaysay Award prize money, arbitration fees, and other financial awards to public welfare causes, including the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund and support for families of CRPF personnel martyred in the Pulwama terror attack.
According to official records, his Annual Immovable Property Return (IPR) shows no assets registered in his or his family’s name.
