Forest Minister Mr. Akbar gave congratulations and best wishes
Raipur, 12 August 2023
On the occasion of World Elephant Day, 12 August, a countrywide celebration was organized in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. In this ceremony, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupendra Yadav, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of Forest, Environment and Climate Change Odisha Shri Pradeep Kumar Amat posted in General Forest Division Mahasamund Guard Mr. Deepak Sharma and the team of Gajyatra were honored with Gaj Gaurav Award. Mr. Deepak Sharma is the only forest guard from Chhattisgarh to receive this honor this year. Forest Minister Shri Mohammad Akbar has congratulated and congratulated Shri Deepak Sharma and the Gaj Yatra team of Chhattisgarh for this achievement.
It is a matter of pride that the name of Mahasamund district has been selected for the nationwide award. Forest Divisional Officer Mr. Pankaj Rajput said that Forest Minister Mr. Mohammad Akbar is always sensitive to prevent human-elephant conflict, and his intention was that there is a need for such a link between the forest department and the villagers, which would make the rural brothers more aware. The link work done by the team of Gaj Yatra and the continuous guidance of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Office Raipur has always been received by the team of Gaj Yatra, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Chhattisgarh Mr. V. Srinivasa Rao has always taken the initiative to advance the campaign of Gaj Yatra and human rights. Mahasamund’s efforts have been strengthened to stop the elephant conflict, according to the intention of the Forest Minister, The Gajayatra was inaugurated on 08 October 2021 on the instructions of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. Villagers are being made aware by telling them the measures to be safe from elephants in 3 phases through Gajyatra, so far about 70 thousand people have been made aware through Gajyatra.Elephant affected areas of the district are Sirpur and At present, the arrival of elephants has decreased in the elephant movement areas of Mohandi, Arand, Bagbahra, Koma, Kona, Bakma, Khatti, Tumgaon. Earlier, the village used to be heard as soon as an elephant knocked in the area. People used to do different measures to drive away elephants. Elephants were chased away by burning fireworks, chillies, torches, and risking their lives, due to which the elephants went aggressive. Due to this, villagers and elephants were becoming victims of violence. Seeing all this, the Gajayatra program was started. So far, about 70 thousand people have been made aware through Gajyatra. In the elephant-affected areas of Sirpur and elephant movement areas of the district, Mohandi, Arand, Bagbahra, Koma, Kona, Bakma, Khatti, Tumgaon, the arrival of elephants is less at present. happened. Earlier, the village used to be heard as soon as an elephant knocked in the area. People used to do different measures to drive away elephants. Elephants were chased away by burning fireworks, chillies, torches, and risking their lives, due to which the elephants went aggressive. Due to this, villagers and elephants were becoming victims of violence. Seeing all this, the Gajayatra program was started. So far, about 70 thousand people have been made aware through Gajyatra. In the elephant-affected areas of Sirpur and elephant movement areas of the district, Mohandi, Arand, Bagbahra, Koma, Kona, Bakma, Khatti, Tumgaon, the arrival of elephants is less at present. happened. Earlier, the village used to be heard as soon as an elephant knocked in the area. People used to do different measures to drive away elephants. Elephants were chased away by burning fireworks, chillies, torches, and risking their lives, due to which the elephants went aggressive. Due to this, villagers and elephants were becoming victims of violence. Seeing all this, the Gajayatra program was started. And used to risk their lives, due to which the elephants went aggressive. Due to this, villagers and elephants were becoming victims of violence. Seeing all this, the Gajayatra program was started. And used to risk their lives, due to which the elephants went aggressive. Due to this, villagers and elephants were becoming victims of violence. Seeing all this, the Gajayatra program was started.
Forest guard Mr. Deepak along with the team has explained to the villagers the behavior and safety measures of elephants by showing the film in the projector and discussing with the people by setting up chaupals in every village. The Gajayatra team has made a successful effort to sensitize the villagers towards elephants through songs and stories in their normal language and style, and the details of the compensation provided by the government were explained to the villagers in detail and the elephant-human conflict was described as amicable. Due to which the violence has reduced and the incidents of public injury and public loss have been reduced to zero. Mr. Deepak Sharma and his team have been awarded the Gaj Gaurav Award at the national level by the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India for the commendable work of Gaj Yatra and only Mahasamund Van Mandal has been awarded for All India Gaj Gaurav Award.
In a conversation with Forest Guard Mr. Deepak Sharma, he told that full credit goes to Forest Officer Mr. Pankaj Rajput for receiving Gaj Gaurav Award, under his guidance the entire outline of Gajyatra was prepared and under the leadership of Vikas Chandrakar Nodal Officer, Gajyatra was successful. Yes, Kamal Narayan Yadav, Bhupendra Das, Vivekananda Kshetrapal, Amit Dewan, Rangveer Tandon, Bhuvan Sahu as a team with me in Gajayatra have made Gajayatra successful step by step.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Wildlife Chhattisgarh Mr. Sudhir Agarwal also participated in the above countrywide ceremony and was present in Bhubaneswar Odisha to encourage the Gajayatra team. Deepak Sharma, Kamal Narayan Yadav, Vivekananda Kshetrapal, Amit Kumar Dewan have received Gaj Gaurav Award in Bhubaneswar Orissa.
