Assam villagers donate paddy field for elephants

Pradip Bhuyan, the director of NGO Hatibondhu has initiated a move of cultivating paddy "only for elephants." The Assam government has also been adopting several initiatives to stop the man-elephant conflict.

New Delhi: In an attempt to stop the unabated man-elephant conflict in Assam, villagers in the state have adopted a noble mission. 84-years-old Pradip Bhuyan, the director of NGO Hatibondhu is leading the mission from the front.

Pradip Bhuyan popularly known as Bordeuta has initiated a move of cultivating paddy "only for elephants."

The 1958 IIT-Kharagpur graduate, while perusing his mission has already influenced many villagers in Assam's Karbi Anglong district.

"I started the mission in 2018. We are trying to create elephant plantation so that the pachyderm can have food. Over time, the jumbo habitats have been shrinking forcing the elephants to intrude into human habitat," said Bhuyan in an exclusive chat with ETV Bharat in New Delhi.

He said that residents of Ronghang village in Karbi Anglong have donated 200 bighas of land for cultivating paddy for elephants.

"During December-January elephants wants to have paddy and they come to the human habitat. So we have taken the initiative to cultivate paddy for them," said Bhuyan adding, "We further use the Ganesh Vandana shlok to push them (elephant) away."

Man-elephant conflict is a major concern in Assam. According to government statistics, as many as 761 people and 249 elephants have died in such conflict between 2010 and 2018.

According to the statistics, altogether 1021 houses, and 1954 bighas of the crop were destroyed in 2017-18 while the corresponding numbers in 2018-19 were 2034 and 5661.

The total area of cropland destroyed by elephants between 2010-11 and 2018-19 was 40973.

Bhuyan, meanwhile, has also approached the state forest department seeking support in his noble mission.

"The principal conservator of forest (PCF) in Assam has expressed his willingness to help us in this move," said Bhuyan.

The Assam government has also been adopting several initiatives to stop the men-elephant conflict.