Elephants and humans don't mix well in Assam. People lose their lives. Crops get destroyed. Elephants get electrocuted or killed. It's a mess.
The Assam government finally came up with something called the Gaja Mitra Scheme to tackle this problem. The cabinet approved it on 10th July 2025. The idea is to get local communities involved in managing elephant movements instead of leaving everything to the forest department.
Here's the reality: between 2000 and 2023, over 1,400 people died in elephant attacks in Assam. During the same period, 1,209 elephants also died – many from electrocution. Something had to change.
Gaja Mitra Scheme 2026 – Quick Facts
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Gaja Mitra Scheme |
| State | Assam |
| Cabinet Approval Date | 10th July 2025 |
| Coverage | 8 districts |
| Implementing Authority | Assam Forest Department |
| Funding Source | CAMPA Fund |
Which Districts Are Covered?
The scheme started with 5 districts. Then people from other affected districts started asking – "What about us?" So the government expanded it.
Originally included: Goalpara, Udalguri, Nagaon, Baksa, Sonitpur
Later added: Golaghat, Jorhat, Biswanath
If you live in one of these 8 districts and elephants are destroying your crops or threatening your family, this scheme is supposed to help you.
What Does the Scheme Actually Do?
Rapid Response Teams
The government is setting up 80 rapid action teams across these districts. Each team has 8 local people – not forest officers, but people from the community who know the area and the elephant movements.
These teams get ₹500 per person per month – just for tea and refreshments. Not a salary, but something to keep them going. They work during the six months from October to March when conflict is at its worst.
Compensation for Farmers
If elephants destroy your paddy field, you get ₹7,500 per bigha. That's the official rate.
If someone in your family dies in an elephant attack, the government gives ₹5 lakh as ex-gratia.
Modern Tech – Not Just Sticks and Torches
They're using AI-powered camera traps to track elephant movements in real-time. Villages get alerts when elephants are headed their way. Gives people time to move to safety.
Solar-powered fencing is being put up to guide elephants away from human settlements. Not to trap them – just to keep them moving on safe paths.
Watch towers are being built so villagers can spot elephants from a distance and warn others.
Food and Water for Elephants
Elephants come into villages because they're hungry and thirsty. So the scheme is planting bamboo and Napier grass in forests – things elephants actually eat. They're also cleaning up old water holes and building new ones.
If elephants have enough food and water in the forest, they're less likely to wander into your village.
Support for the Teams
Each team gets basic equipment – torchlights, megaphones, field dress, shoes, and crackers. Nothing fancy, but enough to do the job.
If a Gaja Mitra team member dies during an elephant incident, it's treated as "on duty" death. The family gets ₹5 lakh.
Why Is This Needed?
The numbers are brutal. Between 2000 and 2023:
- 1,400+ people killed by elephants
- 1,209 elephants died – many from electrocution
- 1,806 conflict incidents recorded
- 337 people injured
Electrocution was the biggest killer of elephants – 209 of them died that way. Farmers put up illegal electric fences to protect their crops, and elephants walk into them. It's a cycle that hurts both sides.
Who's Watching Over This?
A district-level committee chaired by the Guardian Minister will monitor everything. The money comes from the CAMPA Fund – that's the Compensatory Afforestation Fund. Basically, money that's meant to be spent on forests and wildlife.
Important Links
| Sl No. | Link Description | Action / Link |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assam Forest Department | assamforest.in |
| 2 | Assam Government Portal | assam.gov.in |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Gaja Mitra Scheme?
A scheme to reduce human-elephant conflict in Assam. Uses local teams, technology, and habitat improvement to keep both people and elephants safe.
Which districts are covered?
Goalpara, Udalguri, Nagaon, Baksa, Sonitpur, Golaghat, Jorhat, and Biswanath.
How much compensation for crop damage?
₹7,500 per bigha of paddy field destroyed by elephants.
What if someone dies in an elephant attack?
The family gets ₹5 lakh ex-gratia.
