First-Ever All-Women Forest Enforcement Squads Deployed to Protect Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary

Bhubaneswar: A major step towards strengthening wildlife conservation while empowering local women, the Hirakud Wildlife Division has inducted five all-women squads into its forest enforcement unit for the protection of Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, marking a first-of-its-kind initiative in the division.

Of the five recruits, four women belong to tribal families from villages located in the foothills of the sanctuary. Having grown up close to the forest, they have witnessed rising human pressure on wildlife habitats, frequent incidents of animal electrocution by fringe villagers to protect crops, and increasing cases of cross-border wildlife trade between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Forest authorities selected the women for their commitment to wildlife and forest protection, familiarity with difficult terrain and fearless approach to frontline conservation work. Their induction is expected to strengthen ground-level enforcement while fostering a sense of ownership among local communities.

The women have undergone three months of rigorous training since October 2025, conducted by frontline forest staff of Debrigarh and ex-Army personnel deployed in the sanctuary. The training involved daily runs of 5–7 km, intensive foot patrols inside the forest during the day, and night patrols along the sanctuary’s periphery.

They received hands-on training in the use of camera traps, mobile patrol applications, live-wire detectors, pressure impression pads, and VHF and walkie-talkie communication systems. The programme also covered survival techniques, wildlife encounter management, movement through dense forest areas and the ecological importance of core and inviolate zones.

Two members—Nabanita Rout and Aliva Kalo—are expert swimmers due to their upbringing near the Hirakud reservoir. They have been trained in cruise operations and will soon undergo advanced cruise driving training at Chandabali in Bhadrak district, following recommendations from Hirakud wildlife authorities.

Their training will conclude on January 1, 2026, after which the women will begin working independently as Protection Squads within Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary.

Sharing her experience, Anjali Topno of Christanpada village said joining the enforcement unit has given her a new sense of purpose. “I am financially independent now and able to support my family. People no longer look at me with sympathy for being a woman; instead, they look at me with pride,” she said.

She added that although patrolling Debrigarh’s rugged terrain was challenging at first, it has now become her life’s mission. “Protecting this forest and motivating rural communities to safeguard it for future generations is my goal,” she said.