Human Elephant conflict has been a long-term challenge for the people of Assam. With decline of forest areas, scarcity of food, wild elephants drive into human settlements, which ultimately results in loss of lives, crops, properties.
Several methods were tried to reduce or minimize these conflicts.
However, as a new initiative, the government of Assam has introduced a new scheme named the Gaja Mitra Scheme, to reduce such conflicts.
What is Gaja Mitra Scheme?
The Gaja Mitra Scheme is a scheme announced by the Government of Assam during a cabinet meeting, to mitigate the increasing Hunan-Elephant conflicts.
This scheme will focus primarily on 80 hotspot areas, across eight vulnerable zone districts namely Goalpara, Udalguri, Nagaon, Baksa, Sonitpur, Golaghat, Jorhat and Biswanath.
How will this work?
Rapid Response Teams:
Teams of eight local volunteers from the community, the Gaja Mitras, at the eight zones will be trained to respond swiftly to act as frontline responders during the times of conflicts, especially during season of paddy cultivation.
Restoration of Habitat:
Planting vegetations like Bamboo, Napier grass and other vegetation sources that are preferred by elephants, would prevent them from entering villages in search of food.
Solar Fencing:
Installing eco-friendly Solar Fences around the borders of vulnerable regions, to ensure safe coexistence of both human and elephant, without harming wildlife, as electrocution have been a major cause of killing of elephants.
Why is it important?
According to a data from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), between the year 2000 and 2023, Assam recorded fatalities 1468 numbers of human lives and tragic loss 1209 numbers of elephants, primarily due to faulty fencing and electrocution.
This scheme, with the Gaja Mitras will ensure to reduce these numbers to a large extent.
By empowering local communities and introducing long term ecological measures, this scheme will build a trust and act as a benchmark for human-wildlife conflicts, making the future safer for both human and elephants.
