In July 2025, Assam launched the 'Gajah Mitra' scheme aimed at protecting people and elephants by managing elephant movements during the paddy season. How many community-based monitoring and response teams will be set up under this scheme across the eight conflict-prone districts?

The correct answer is 80 teams. In News Assam Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, launched the 'Gajah Mitra' scheme in July 2025 to protect both people and elephants. Key Points The scheme targets eight conflict-prone districts with frequent human-elephant interactions: Goalpara, Udalguri, Nagaon, Baksa, Sonitpur, Golaghat, Jorhat, and Biswanath. It aims to safeguard both human lives and elephant populations by managing elephant movements effectively. Under the scheme, 80 community-based monitoring and response teams will be formed across these districts. These teams will actively monitor elephant movement, especially during the paddy cultivation season when conflicts escalate. The initiative fosters community involvement in wildlife conservation and conflict mitigation. The scheme helps reduce crop damage and human casualties through timely monitoring and response. This reflects Assam’s commitment to balancing wildlife protection with human safety in sensitive ecological zones. Additional Information 'Gajah Mitra' translates to 'Elephant Friend' emphasizing coexistence between humans and elephants. Human-elephant conflict is a significant challenge in Assam due to habitat overlap and agricultural expansion. Community-based monitoring engages locals in wildlife preservation efforts, leveraging indigenous knowledge. Conflict-prone districts are identified based on historical data of elephant movement and conflict incidents. Such schemes help protect biodiversity while promoting rural livelihoods and safety.