Saturday, October 24, 2009

Elephants & Farmers: both are Victims

WELCOME to my Blog. I request you to write to Hon’ble Chief Minister, Orissa, Sri Nabin Pattanaik appealing him to save Elephants and also Rural people, who are invaded and killed by Elephants.
As I often read News on Elephant death and death of Human being in elephant attack, I started following News articles on Elephant existence published in two Leading Local daily—Samaja and The New Indian Express. I think this is an important issue regarding Environment of Orissa, bio-diversity and human life. I have collected such news and briefed in this Blog for one year since October 2008 to September 2009. This is a strong question of existence for this loving animal and life of Poor rural people of Orissa, who are with their great Tolerance bearing the burnt of this hazard.

During this one year time total 75 times such news was printed in these two Dailies. Such News Maximum published during November ’08-- 12 times, December ’08-- 12 times, April ’09-- 12 times and January ’09-- 10 times. Minimum twice such news is published in all months. This says that Elephant-Man conflict is not a periodic happening, it is continuing all through the year.

If we look to the direct damages of Elephant attacks we find that--during this one year time different areas of 16 districts of Orissa are invaded by Elephant problem, these are—Sundergarh, Mayurbhanj, Anugol, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir, Sonepur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Debgarh, Phulbani, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Raygada and Capital Bhubaneswar itself. Regarding loses of Human life:--
24 persons are killed by Elephant, and
25 were seriously injured.
I think this is possible only in State like Orissa, where people are simple, non-violent and kindhearted and respectful to culture whole-heartedly.
Regarding loses of Elephants:--
12 no. Elephants are either died due to several reasons or killed by poachers.
1 Elephant was injured by Maoists.
Countless houses are destroyed by Elephants, and many acres of paddy crops in field and peasant’s paddy-stocks are damaged/eaten by elephants.
And none knows whether these poor Farmers are compensated properly for these lose of Life & Livelihood!
I really wonder that People’s Representatives are keeping totally quiet on such damaging matter, and this is an example how unmoved they can remain on Framers death! Only one news I found where Kandhamal MLA presented in Assembly his concern on Elephant menace in the District.

Such human deaths by straying, hostile elephants points to the decaying status of Forest & Bio-diversity in Orissa. Loss in Bio-diversity takes toll on Food chain and also the Health & Nutrition of Human and all other animals. Also this is directly linked to the catastrophe of Climate change. In Orissa Climate change is now clearly visible; this year in 2009, monsoon visited us during end of July only. Climate temperature rose as high as 45-48 degree through out Orissa. Failure of crops, shortage of water, shrinking ground water level, Flash Floods, Draught leading Orissa to a miserable condition where human being is destined to be more and more weak and poor only.
Bio-Diversity board of Orissa is organized recently during April 2009, but this is yet to be functional or its functions are not known. Orissa do not have any Government machinery to monitor and develop wild animals like Elephants, Tigers, Bears etc. Only Sanctuaries is not the answer. Also Orissa is still rich in wild Flora and Fauna but monitoring and preservation and further development of these assets is neglected.

Continuous Attacks of elephants on human habitat warn us on one hand – of the serious condition of Environment which is at stake now and on other hand-- plights of the immediate victims, the villagers. Their Life and Property and Food also livelihood is at stake now. Merely granting some Compensation is not the answer. Each and every human being is valuable; compensation, even if given, goes to the survived relative, but what about that person who dies in elephant attack? S/he also must have much potential, many dreams—which remains unfulfilled with his demise. I think Government should take these losses of life more seriously. Rural people, poor people also have a Right to Life, which is basic Human Rights; but if Government could not check such Elephant menaces and repeatedly such incidences happens-- do the Government shows that it respects rural poor peoples Right to Life?

Through this Blog I am appealing to all conscious people to raise voice to save Elephants and Rural people, Save Forest & Environment, and act on Climate Change in Orissa.

Below is the compilation of such news:--

27th September, 2009. Sunday Indian Express. Corridor of survival shrinking for Elephants in Orissa. During last 10 years around 400 elephants died in Orissa. Encroachments, Mining, Urbanization, large infrastructures like Road networks and Railway lines have led to decaying of corridors of elephants. Wild Life Trust of India, has done a mapping of elephant corridor had identified nine such stretches is Orissa, six of these are in side Orissa and two are inter-state. “the forced restraints on their movement and consequent confinement to small groups changed behaviour of the elephants and Human-elephant conflict was on the rise”. Protection of the corridors (PA—Protected Area status) is important observed WTI “If the Orissa government is so keen to improve the corridor and resurrect them, the first thing it can do it accord PA status to them while improving their conditions”

September 13, 2009. Samaja. “Hatibareni”(Prevent elephant) puja observed to get rid of Elephant menace. 66 families of Kankeikoli (Debgarh district) cultivated 60 acre land in the village, but elephant herds are damaging crops since last 6/7 days. Villagers tried to chase away the elephants with help of Forest department, but all gone in vain. So they called one Gunia and started “Hatibareni” puja to block elephants enter village. Gunia prayed to Devi Banadurga, Mahisasur, Rakshas (Demons) and sacrificed 5 chickens. Rice with mantra was sprinkled around the village and cultivated land, and villagers made feast with the sacrificed chickens

September 8, 2009, The New Indian Express. Jumbo falls to Death. Carcasses of two elephants—mother & Calf—was found at Kurumtangore village under Sadar Forest range (Dhenkanal district). It is suspected that elephants consumed paddy on which pesticide was sprayed. Elephants bore no injury mark.

September 6, 2009, Samaja. 3 dead in Elephant attack.
3 persons including one child of 8 years age died in elephant attack in Simanbadi area of Daringibadi block (Phulbani District). The elephant herd has broken more than 20 houses in the area also.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Elephant Vs. Man --a real Saga in Orissa

I am compiling News on Elephant Vs. Man in Orissa since October 2008. Local newspapers are publishing news on it regularly. Still it goes on without any solid action or long term action plan and implementation. Following is the compilation:-
August 14, Samaja. Elephant menace. Elephant menace is continuing since last 7 days in Dadarama area. Elephants are eating and destroying paddy in field.

August 6, 2009. The New India Express. A old man was trampled to death by an elephant on the rampage in Baghabuda village under Badgaon police limit during midnight.The irate villagers disrupted traffic on State High way 10, near Kuenta,protesting elephant terror. The person is the 5th victim of such elephant attacks in less than a month. Only July 7th the tusker had brutally killed one couple in Barmal village (Sundergarh).

July 22, 2009. Samaja. Tusker broken 7 houses and smashed old woman to death. One tusker raised vilence in 5 villages of Idma GP of Badgaon Block (Dist: Sundergarh) during the night. After so much destruction and death, the elephant was driven out to nearest forest by forest guards and local people.

July 21, 2009. The Indian Express. Killer Tusker found dead. The ailing tusker who killed a scribe on 19th July found dead in village Khairmalunder Badram Forest range. Forest officials rushed to spot to claim the body for autopsy. Some think the death is due to old age and some think he suffered Sunstroke during summer and failed to overcome it.

July 20, 2009. Indian Express. Jharkhand tusker on prowl in Mayurbhanj. A Rampaging wild tusker strayed into mayurbhanj’s karanjia forests and triggered panic in several bordering villages. It is being sighted mainly in and around Sandeuli, Nuagaon and Kerkera villages under Karanjia division, about 130 km from Baripada.

July 19, 2009, The New Indian Express. Tusker strays into Mayurbhanj forests. A tusker has crossed Midnapore forest (W.B.) and strayed into deuli range of Mayurbhanj district; the tusker is causing extensive damage to villages close to Jalghati forest here.

July 18, 2009. Samaja. Elephant menace in Kandhamal. After the vilent Riot in Kandhamal, Elephant attack is also increased in Kandhamal, reported Sri Karendra Majhi MLA during zero hour in Assembly house. Elephants have broken down hundreds of houses, beneficiaries should be provided with houses through IAY, he said.