- Gaja Mitra Scheme launched in eight conflict-prone districts to reduce human-elephant clashes.
- Community teams trained and AI cameras deployed to monitor elephant movements and protect villagers.
- Focus on greening elephant habitats to restore natural food sources and migratory routes.
If you live in Assam, especially in districts facing frequent human-elephant conflicts, you should know about the newly launched Gaja Mitra Scheme. The Assam government started this scheme to help reduce damage caused by elephants to crops and property and safeguard human lives.
The scheme focuses on 8 districts where human-elephant conflicts are most common: Goalpara, Baksa, Udalguri, Sonitpur, Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat, and Biswanath. These areas have faced recurring incidents where elephants enter villages in search of food, leading to losses on both human and elephant sides.
What is Gaja Mitra Scheme Assam and Who Benefits?
Gaja Mitra Scheme Assam works by building a local support network in villages to reduce conflict during peak times, especially the six-month period covering paddy cultivation when clashes usually increase.
A village team of eight members will be selected and trained to better understand elephant behavior, prepare the community, and take preventive steps to protect their crops and homes. This team acts as a bridge between villagers and the Forest Department to manage potential encounters safely.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
One innovative aspect is the installation of AI-powered cameras in forest areas visited by elephants. These cameras can detect elephant movement early and send real-time alerts to nearby villages. With this early alert system, villagers get time to take precautions, helping avoid unfortunate human-elephant interactions.
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Restoring Elephant Habitats
Gaja Mitra Scheme Assam also focuses on the environmental side by planting more trees to restore elephant habitats. This helps elephants find natural food sources inside the forest, reducing their need to enter farmland. It also helps rebuild elephant migratory routes, minimizing their contact with human settlements.
Additional Government Measures
Alongside the Gaja Mitra Scheme, Assam government has increased the monthly pay for Gaon Pradhans (village heads) from Rs 9,000 to Rs 14,000, effective from 1 October 2025. This aims to strengthen local governance in affected areas.
Through this community-centric, tech-supported, and ecological approach, Gaja Mitra Scheme Assam strives to create a peaceful coexistence between humans and elephants in these vulnerable districts.
If you are living in one of these districts, staying informed and participating in community efforts under this scheme can help protect your family and your livelihood.