Guwahati, March 11 -- Environmental activists and student organizations have criticized Assam Finance Minister Ajanta Neog for excluding Golaghat district from the Gaja Mitra programme, a key initiative announced in the 2025-26 state budget to mitigate human-elephant conflict.

In her budget speech, Finance Minister Neog announced the Gaja Mitra scheme in the five most human-elephant conflict-prone districts - Goalpara, Udalguri, Nagaon, Baksa, and Sonitpur.

The scheme entails deploying AI-based camera traps to send real-time alerts on elephant movement and advance paddy procurement in areas where elephants frequently forage.

"Additionally, Gaja Mitra teams would be formed in these regions to support the effort," she said.

Neog further...