Young Women Inducted to Guard Forests and Wildlife in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Dec 27 : In a significant step towards strengthening wildlife protection and promoting women’s participation in conservation, the Odisha Forest Department has inducted all-women patrol squads to guard forests and wildlife in the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary under the Hirakud Wildlife Division.

Divisional Forest Officer Anshu Pragyan Das said that five women units have been inducted for the first time into the Enforcement Squad. Most of the members belong to tribal families and were selected for their strong commitment to forest and wildlife protection, fearless attitude, and desire to serve nature while building meaningful livelihoods.

“These young women have grown up in and around the forests and have closely witnessed rising human pressure on the sanctuary, incidents of wildlife electrocution to protect crops, and increasing cross-border wildlife trade between Odisha and Chhattisgarh,” the DFO said.

The recruits underwent three months of rigorous training starting in October, conducted by women frontline staff of Debrigarh Sanctuary and ex-Army personnel. Their training included daily runs of at least five kilometres, daytime patrolling inside forest areas, and nighttime patrols along the sanctuary periphery.

They were also trained in the use of camera traps, mobile patrol applications, live wire detectors, Pressure Impression Pads, and the importance of foot patrolling. In addition, the women were taught safety measures during wildlife encounters, the use of VHF and walkie-talkies, movement through dense forest areas, and the significance of core and inviolate zones.

Two of the inductees, Nabanita Rout and Aliva Kalo, are expert swimmers and have also been trained in cruise driving. They are expected to undergo further specialised training at Chandabali in Bhadrak district on the recommendation of Hirakud authorities.

After completing their training, the women will begin working independently as protection squads in the sanctuary from January 1.

Expressing pride in her new role, inductee Anjali Topno said the assignment would make her financially independent while allowing her to contribute to the protection of Debrigarh Sanctuary for future generations. “After three months of practice, protecting Debrigarh has become my life’s mission, and I want to motivate rural communities to safeguard this forest,” she added.