In order to check the rising incidents of human-elephant conflict (HEC), West Bengal has launched a unique human-driven initiative, named "Gajamitra (Friends of Elephants)".

• Under this scheme, the state Forest Department has started the process of appointing 600 local youth from HEC-prone pockets both in north Bengal as well as in south Bengal as these Gajamitras.
• According to West Bengal Forest Minister Jyotipriyo Mullick, the recruitment process has already started. "Once the recruitment process is complete, the selected youths will be provided with android sets with the specially developed Gajamitra App installed there," he said.
• The selected youths will procure advance information about the movement of elephant herds, alert the forest department and local people, so that preventive measures can be taken for avoiding HEC, the minister added