Village Defence Party (VDP) members from 38 villages in Baksa and Udalguri districts attended training programmes on human-elephant conflict (HEC) mitigation organised by Aaranyak. The sessions were held on August 1 and 3 under Barbari Police Station in Baksa district and Paneri Police Station in Udalguri district, respectively.
A total of 126 VDP members, including a significant number of women, participated in these training sessions. The initiative, supported by the SBI Foundation, equipped the members with essential knowledge and skills to manage and reduce negative interactions between humans and elephants.
“VDP members can play a vital role in monitoring elephants in their vicinity, managing HEC alerts, and using non-lethal techniques to ward off elephants from human-use areas. They can also play a key role in educating locals on peaceful coexistence, collaborating with authorities for better conflict management, and promoting sustainable practices,” said Dr Bibhuti P Lahkar, senior conservation scientist at Aaranyak.
Led by senior officials Hiten Baishya and Anjan Baruah, the training sessions focused on reducing negative human-elephant interactions, accessing ex-gratia for damages or losses incurred due to HEC, and effective HEC mitigation measures to facilitate coexistence. The interactive sessions included discussions and an evaluation game, creating a dynamic learning experience.
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The events were attended by Khwmdwn Gura Goyary and Tarun Chandra Baishya, Circle Organisers (COs) of the Village Defence Organisation (VDO), and the Officer in Charge of Paneri Police Station.
The high participation of VDP members in these training sessions marks a significant step towards the community-driven conservation efforts adopted by Aaranyak. The event was facilitated by Aaranyak staff members Rabiya Daimari, Abhijit Saikia, Mondeep Basumatari, Dibakar Nayak, Jiban Chetry, Jaugashar Basumatary, Bikash Tossa, Pradip Barman, Rupam Gayari, and Bijoy Kalita.
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