Wayanad MP Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has promised to bring in CSR funds in Kerala to address man-animal conflicts. She said that the funds from the central and state governments were inadequate for it and CSR funds can plug the gap.
The Congress leader was speaking to the media at Pancharakolly in Wayanad after visiting the family of a tribal woman who was mauled to death by a tiger on Friday.
“The central government’s lapse in providing funds to combat man-animal conflict will be raised in Parliament. I will take steps to bring in CSR funds to address the issue,” Vadra said.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attended a review meeting with district administrative officials in Kalpetta where she was told about recent animal attacks and the issues faced by the departments concerned in tackling them.
She said it was a complex problem. “But, however complex it is, the responsibility to protect human lives lies with the central and state governments,” Priyanka said, addressing an event organised in Kalpetta as part of the Malayora Samara Yatra, led by the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, V.D. Satheesan.
She added that the Wayanad district officials were making “big efforts” to protect human lives from animal attacks but were facing challenges as the central and state governments were not giving the issue enough priority.
“They need money for more guards, better fencing and repairs to trenches and walls. Without sufficient funding, they cannot provide proper protection,” she said. “What you are facing is unacceptable,” the Lok Sabha member added.
She underscored that five people had died in attacks by wild animals in Wayanad over the past one-and-a-half months, saying this was “unacceptable”.
CSR funds for Addressing Man-Animal Conflict
Using CSR funds for addressing the issue of man-animal conflict is not new. There are several companies who are employing their resources and collaborating with various organisations that have expertise to tackle such issues. Some such successful CSR initiatives are as follows.
Tata Coffee Protecting Elephants
Tata Coffee has long been invested in protecting the ecosystem engineers of the forest — elephants. Its 12,700+hectare (ha) of plantations in the Western Ghats are home to 3,000+ native plants and 396 animal species, including elephants, leading to conflicts with its 15,000+ workers. Tata Coffee worked with wildlife institutions and NGOs, and found solutions that included networking with government and forest departments for data sharing and assistance in early warning systems, radio collaring to track herds, periodic mock drills, training on emergency preparedness and infrastructural interventions like solar-powered fences. Zero wildlife fatalities arising out of human-elephant conflict have been reported in this region since 2018.
The Muthoot Group – Human – elephant conflict management
The Muthoot Group’s logo displays elephants and the company has a special interest in the conservation of the Indian elephant. It has collaborated with WWF-India for managing Human–Elephant Conflict and protecting elephant habitats. The company has donated 75,000 USD under its CSR mandate to protect elephants across six Indian states, namely Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, and the company’s home state of Kerela.
The project for CSR in animal protection focuses on the development and training of anti-depredation squads across elephant attack-prone areas in these states. Funding for low-cost solar fences in villages and electric fencing around agricultural fields is also provided.
Investment is also made on the use of advanced technology like infrared motion sensors that work on the concept of detecting activity (elephant) through sensors in the nearby areas and activating the alarms in return. In addition, the villagers are equipped with torch and searchlights to help them spot elephants and thus prevent damage to crops, property and life.
