On the occasion of the World Elephant Day, NGO GROW with Nature organised a 7-day workshop from August 12 to 18 to create awareness on different issues related to elephants.
On Valedictory day on August 18, the discussion was on the topic, "Role of public in protecting the national heritage" where guests like , DFO Khordha Samyak Samantara, Trustee Save Elephant Foundation Dr (Er) Prakash Chandra Jena, former Honorary Wildlife WardenVanoo Mitra Acharya, freelance journalist Dinesh Das and host, researcher in wildlife biology and founder of GROW with Nature, Gayatri Devi participated.
During the discussion the guests made suggestions that during the appointment of the elephants watchers, elephants squad, forest fire prevention squad and other temporary workers, the authority should consult with the members of local Van Surakshya Samitis and villagers who can better suggest the fittest persons for the purpose.
Awareness among the villagers of jungle side villages could bring cordial relationship between the man and the elephant. The Forest and Environment Department should grow the jungle with most of the trees and plants as eatable by the elephants, they opined.
Elephant corridors should least be obstructed for the modernization purposes. In every scheme relating to elephant protection and their sustainance, public should be intimated about the project cost and its way of implementation, they suggested.