'Gaja Bandhab' launches street play campaign to raise awareness on human-elephant conflict and plastic pollution

 In an effort to promote peaceful coexistence between humans and wild elephants and address the growing challenge of human-elephant conflict, the Gaja Bandhab Elephant Welfare Trust has launched a unique awareness campaign through educational street plays in conflict-prone areas of Assam.
 

The initiative, led by the trust's Managing Trustee, Bhaskarjyoti Das, began on June 2, at Muktijodha Kamakhya Prasad Tripathi Model School in Amchang Tea Estate, Bamunkhat, on the outskirts of Guwahati. Teachers and students from Bamunkhat Primary School also participated in the programme.
 

Through interactive street performances, volunteers educated students about the precautions to be taken when wild elephants enter human settlements, ways to avoid human-elephant conflicts, and the importance of maintaining a safe distance from the animals. The campaign also focused on the dangers posed by single-use plastics and the need to reduce plastic pollution.
 

Students responded enthusiastically to the performances, while members of the teaching community praised the initiative for addressing two critical environmental issues.
 

School principal Ratul Bora described the campaign as timely and relevant, stating that it would help students develop a better understanding of wildlife conservation and encourage responsible behaviour towards both elephants and the environment. He also highlighted the role of such awareness programmes in sensitising young people about the harmful effects of plastic pollution.
 

Following the launch event, the Gaja Bandhab team conducted similar awareness programmes at Khetri Model High School, Burhi Gosani M.E. School and Belguri L.P. School.
 

Speaking to reporters, Bhaskarjyoti Das said that schools located in areas frequently affected by human-elephant encounters are ideal platforms for spreading the message of coexistence.
 

"We need to instil awareness among students from an early age about the ecological importance of elephants and the need for conflict-free coexistence. If children understand these issues today, they will become future protectors of wildlife. At the same time, plastic pollution is emerging as a serious threat to wild elephants, making awareness on responsible waste management equally important," he said.
 

Das added that the encouraging response received from students and teachers has motivated the organisation to continue expanding the awareness campaign to more schools and communities in the future.