Syllabus: GS-III & V – Conservation, Environmental Degradation

Why in the News?

Rampaging herds of wild elephants, straying from forests in neighbouring Meghalaya, have caused widespread devastation in the Palasbari and Rani areas of Assam.

The recurring night raids have flattened hundreds of bighas of standing and harvested paddy crops and damaged homes, highlighting the acute Human–Elephant Conflict (HEC) that leaves villagers in constant fear and financial distress.

The crisis has brought into focus the recent decision by the Union Ministry of Agriculture to include crop loss due to wild animal attacks under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), offering a new—though delayed—measure of relief.

Understanding the Human–Elephant Conflict in Assam

The Core Reason: Habitat Fragmentation and Corridor Blockage

Assam is a stronghold of the Asian elephant, but its usable habitat has drastically shrunk due to developmental activities such as the expansion of tea gardens, farms, highways, and towns.

This habitat encroachment and fragmentation of traditional elephant corridors forces elephants to move into human settlements in search of food and water, especially during lean seasons or migration periods.

The Scale of Devastation

HEC is a critical ecological and social concern in Assam, leading to high casualties on both sides.
According to recent reports, Assam has recorded over 71 human deaths and 41 elephant deaths till 2025.

Elephants frequently raid agricultural fields—particularly energy-rich paddy crops—causing severe economic losses for farmers, as seen in Palasbari and Rani.

Inadequate Mitigation Efforts

Villagers report that Forest Department responses have often been insufficient.
Traditional deterrence methods such as lighting fires, beating tin sheets, and bursting crackers have largely failed against large and desperate herds.

Policy Response: Bridging the Protection Gap

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) – New Add-on Cover

On November 18, 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture approved revised modalities under PMFBY to address crop loss due to wild animal attacks.

• New Localised Risk Category: Crop loss due to wild animal attacks is now recognised as the fifth add-on cover under the “Localised Risk” category.
• Earlier, such losses were considered “preventable” and excluded from coverage.
• Implementation: States will notify the list of wild animals (elephants, wild boars, nilgai, etc.) and identify vulnerable districts.
• Reporting Mechanism: Farmers must report losses within 72 hours using the Crop Insurance App with geo-tagged photographs.
• Rollout: Applicable from the Kharif season of 2026.

Paddy Inundation Coverage Restored

Coverage for paddy crop inundation has been restored under the localised calamity category—crucial relief for flood-prone regions of Assam and coastal states.

Way Forward

Securing Elephant Corridors

There is an urgent need to identify, protect, and restore elephant corridors and prevent construction or encroachment along these routes.

Project Elephant provides financial and technical support for elephant habitat and corridor conservation.

Technological Solutions

• Early warning systems using mobile alerts.
• Solar fencing and drone surveillance.
• Project RE-HAB (KVIC initiative) uses bee-fences as a non-lethal deterrent.

Community-Centric Conservation

Involving local communities—especially women and youth—as forest watchers and rapid response teams is crucial.

The Hati Bondhu Initiative along the Nagaon–Karbi Anglong border is a successful model. It creates food buffer zones using elephant-friendly crops such as Napier grass and paddy near corridors.

Conclusion

The Palasbari–Rani crisis reflects a broader challenge across forest-edge regions where conservation and livelihoods collide.
While revised crop insurance norms provide financial cushioning, sustainable coexistence demands ecological planning, governance accountability, and strong community participation.

Without preventive action, fear will continue to follow elephants—and farmers will continue to bear the cost.

Exam Hook: Key Takeaways

• Human–Elephant Conflict: Driven by habitat loss rather than population growth.
• PMFBY Revised Modalities: Recognise wild animal attacks as an insurable localised risk.
• Localised Risk: Isolated crop loss due to specific perils like hailstorm, landslide, and wild animals.
• Multi-Stakeholder Approach: Insurance must be complemented by corridor protection and community-based mitigation.

Mains Question

The inclusion of crop loss due to wild animal attacks under PMFBY addresses only the financial fallout of Human–Elephant Conflict.
Critically analyse the underlying causes of HEC in Northeast India and suggest comprehensive, long-term solutions for coexistence.

One Line Wrap

The recent elephant raids in Assam highlight the gravity of Human–Elephant Conflict, where insurance offers partial relief but long-term coexistence depends on habitat protection and community-led conservation.

Source: The Assam Tribune (E-paper)