Bhubaneswar: A five-member all-woman squad has been deployed for the protection of forest and animals in Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha.
Officials said an all-woman squad has been inducted into the force in the sanctuary for the first time in the state.
Four of the newly inducted personnel hail from tribal families living in villages situated on the foothills of the wildlife sanctuary, according to DFO, Hirakud division, Anshu Pragyan Das.
The squad members have spent their time wandering in the forests and have witnessed increasing human pressure on the sanctuary, cases of electrocution of animals due to the erection of wires by residents of peripheral villages to protect their crops, and also the Odisha-Chhattisgarh cross-border trade of wildlife animals and their parts, she said.
The women have been selected because of their commitment to wildlife and forest protection, fearless attitude, and dream to have a meaningful life by serving the nature. The women have undergone three months of physical training since October. Two of the five women personnel are expert swimmers, and they have also been trained in cruise diving, she said, adding that the all-woman squad will start working in the sanctuary from January 1.
Anjali Topno, a member of the squad, said, “I feel honoured to be a part of the Debrigarh enforcement unit. I am financially independent now, and would also be able to support my family. Everyone will look at me with pride as I am contributing towards the protection of Debrigarh sanctuary and saving this forest for our future generations.”
The all-woman enforcement squad was formed as many of the frontline staffers are women living inside the sanctuary. This move will motivate villagers to protect the sanctuary from poachers, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) P K Jha said.
