Odisha government to fund engagement of more ‘Gaja Sathis’ (Bhubaneswar)
The New Indian Express
May 9, 2022
The State government will provide financial support to over 700 Van
Suraksha Samitis (VSSs) this year to engage more ‘Gaja Sathis’ (friend of
elephants) for tracking movement of the pachyderms.Last year, around 517
VSSs had received Rs 25,000 each from the government for engagement of
‘Gaja Sathis’ in conflict zones and human settlements close to elephant
corridors.
“Considering the success of the scheme last year, the department has
decided to engage more such volunteers through VSSs in villages surrounding
elephant corridors to get information on their movement and location,” said
a forest official.
The State government has earmarked around Rs 2 crore budget for the
purpose. Five persons from a cluster of villages will be engaged by the
VSSs as ‘Gaja Sathis’ and will be provided firecrackers, lights and other
tools to track and drive elephant herds away from human habitations.Apart
from monitoring the movement of elephants, the volunteers will coordinate
with anti-depredation squads and sensitise villagers about presence of
jumbos, if any, in nearby areas.
In 2019, the State government had launched ‘Gaja Bandhu’ Scheme to get
early inputs on movement of elephants. However, the scheme was replaced
with ‘Gaja Sathis’ last year as the provision of Rs 10,000 remuneration
under ‘Gaja Bandhu’ led to resentment among villagers over the selection
procedure.
While ‘Gaja Sathis’ will be engaged purely on voluntary basis, Forest
officials said the VSSs will now have the authority to utilise Rs 25,000
annual assistance towards incentives for these volunteers or any other
preventive measures/development work in their villages to reduce
man-elephant conflict. Besides, the ‘Gaja Sathis’ will be engaged for a
temporary period, primarily from October to February, during which
elephants frequently stray into crop fields and human settlements.
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2022/may/09/odisha-government-to-fund-engagement-of-more-gaja-sathis-2451462.html
Odisha government to fund engagement of more ‘Gaja Sathis’ (Bhubaneswar)
The New Indian Express
May 9, 2022
The State government will provide financial support to over 700 Van
Suraksha Samitis (VSSs) this year to engage more ‘Gaja Sathis’ (friend of
elephants) for tracking movement of the pachyderms.Last year, around 517
VSSs had received Rs 25,000 each from the government for engagement of
‘Gaja Sathis’ in conflict zones and human settlements close to elephant
corridors.
“Considering the success of the scheme last year, the department has
decided to engage more such volunteers through VSSs in villages surrounding
elephant corridors to get information on their movement and location,” said
a forest official.
The State government has earmarked around Rs 2 crore budget for the
purpose. Five persons from a cluster of villages will be engaged by the
VSSs as ‘Gaja Sathis’ and will be provided firecrackers, lights and other
tools to track and drive elephant herds away from human habitations.Apart
from monitoring the movement of elephants, the volunteers will coordinate
with anti-depredation squads and sensitise villagers about presence of
jumbos, if any, in nearby areas.
In 2019, the State government had launched ‘Gaja Bandhu’ Scheme to get
early inputs on movement of elephants. However, the scheme was replaced
with ‘Gaja Sathis’ last year as the provision of Rs 10,000 remuneration
under ‘Gaja Bandhu’ led to resentment among villagers over the selection
procedure.
While ‘Gaja Sathis’ will be engaged purely on voluntary basis, Forest
officials said the VSSs will now have the authority to utilise Rs 25,000
annual assistance towards incentives for these volunteers or any other
preventive measures/development work in their villages to reduce
man-elephant conflict. Besides, the ‘Gaja Sathis’ will be engaged for a
temporary period, primarily from October to February, during which
elephants frequently stray into crop fields and human settlements.
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2022/may/09/odisha-government-to-fund-engagement-of-more-gaja-sathis-2451462.html
