Human-Elephant Conflict in Jalpaiguri: In the remote forest village of Bhelordanga, located near Gorumara National Park in north Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district, children’s access to education has been cut short not by lack of schools, but by a problem much larger and far more unpredictable — herds of elephants that block the road to their classrooms.
The narrow forest paths leading to schools in Ramsai and Kalipur, just 2–3 km away, are often occupied by elephants searching for food. For the children, some barely 6–10 years old, this daily journey becomes a terrifying gamble. Fearing encounters with elephants or even leopards, many turn back before reaching school, missing crucial lessons.
Amidst this crisis, 20-year-old Kusum Munda, a second-year college student, has stepped up as an unlikely yet determined teacher. From the veranda of her modest home, she has created a safe haven for learning, ensuring that her village’s children do not completely lose their right to education because of the escalating human-elephant conflict in Jalpaiguri.
Bhelordanga: A Village Caught Between Forest and Future
Bhelordanga is home to only about 20 families, most of whom depend on tea gardens and small-scale farming for survival. Its location at the edge of Gorumara’s dense forests means that wildlife, especially elephants, frequently traverse village paths.
For children in Classes I to IV, schools lie outside the village in nearby Ramsai and Kalipur. Though the distance is short, the route through forested stretches is fraught with danger. Elephants can block roads for hours, and sometimes leopards are also spotted.
Pari Munda, a little girl from the village, explained with fear in her voice:
“We can’t go to school every day. Often, elephants are standing on the jungle path, so we’re too scared to go. That’s why we come to Kusum didi to study.”
Another student, Sanjana, said that in a six-day school week, they often manage to attend just two or three days. This level of absenteeism takes a toll on their learning, creating a long-term risk of dropouts and poor academic progress.
Kusum Munda: Student by Day, Teacher by Evening
Unlike most girls in her village, Kusum managed to pursue higher education and is now in her second year at Mainaguri College. Concerned about the younger children missing school so often, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
Every afternoon from 4 pm to 6 pm, she teaches nearly a dozen village children in her veranda. Her “classroom” is small, with no benches, blackboards, or formal resources — just mats on the floor and exercise books. Yet, for the children of Bhelordanga, this makeshift school is their only reliable access to consistent learning.
Her journey has not been easy. Kusum comes from a modest family and often works part-time in nearby tea gardens to earn some money. With her earnings, she sometimes buys biscuits and chocolates for her students as small rewards to keep them motivated.
Originally, she started teaching in a tin-roofed shed, but frequent leaks during the monsoon forced her to move the classes to her veranda. She dreams of repairing the shed one day to make a proper study space for the children.
Her initiative was encouraged by Manoj Das, a teacher from Maynaguri Singimari B.Ed College, who not only guided her but also offered some financial help. Kusum’s determination shows how community-driven solutions can fill gaps left by the state.
When Education Meets Human-Elephant Conflict
The story of Bhelordanga highlights a troubling intersection: the clash between conservation challenges and basic human needs like education.
West Bengal is among the worst-affected states in terms of human-elephant conflict. According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, around 400 people die annually across India due to elephant encounters, and Bengal contributes significantly to these numbers. In Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Jhargram districts, villagers regularly face crop destruction, house damage, and loss of human lives due to elephant herds moving outside forests.
For children, the impact is subtler but equally damaging:
- Regular school absenteeism
- Learning gaps in foundational years
- Increased risk of permanent dropout
- Anxiety and fear around education journeys
Last year, an incident in Jalpaiguri saw an elephant herd storm into a school compound, damaging infrastructure and devouring food prepared under the mid-day meal scheme. Such incidents illustrate how deeply human-elephant encounters affect education.
Cultural and Social Dimensions
Kusum’s initiative is more than a local solution; it is symbolic of the resilience of rural communities living on the frontline of wildlife habitats.
In Bengal, festivals like Durga Puja have already been used to highlight human-elephant conflict through pandal themes, but Kusum’s story shows how the battle plays out every single day, not just in symbolic art.
Her role as both a student and teacher demonstrates the power of local agency in resisting educational exclusion. Instead of letting children fall behind, she is ensuring continuity, however modest.
Human-Elephant Conflict in Jalpaiguri: Policy Gaps and Needed Interventions
While Kusum’s efforts deserve admiration, they also point to failures in rural education and wildlife management policies. Villages like Bhelordanga require systemic solutions, not just individual heroism.
What Needs to Be Done:
- Safe School Routes: Government and forest departments should collaborate to create protected routes for children, possibly through monitored paths, fencing, or community guards.
- Satellite Schools: Setting up small primary schools within forest villages can cut down unsafe travel distances.
- Support for Local Tutors: Community teachers like Kusum should be recognized, trained, and provided stipends to strengthen grassroots education.
- Compensation & Relief: Quick and transparent compensation for families facing wildlife-related losses will reduce financial strain.
- Habitat Restoration: Long-term conservation must focus on restoring elephant corridors to reduce their movement into human areas.
For official guidance on mitigating human-wildlife conflict, see the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and WWF India.
A Story of Hope Amid Struggle
Despite the hardships, Kusum’s story is ultimately one of hope. Her students adore her, calling her “Kusum didi”. Parents, though worried about their children’s education, feel reassured knowing that at least some learning continues at home.
What stands out most is Kusum’s commitment. She does not charge money for her classes; instead, she views teaching as her responsibility to the younger generation of her village. She hopes that with better opportunities, more children from Bhelordanga will not just finish primary school but reach college like her.
Conclusion
The case of Bhelordanga village is a reminder that education and conservation cannot be viewed in isolation. Human-elephant conflict in Jalpaiguri is not just about crops and houses; it is also about lost childhoods, interrupted education, and unequal futures.
While elephants need safe habitats, children too deserve safe passage to schools. Kusum Munda’s initiative bridges the gap temporarily, but real change will come only when authorities recognize and act upon this intersection of wildlife and human rights.
Until then, in a quiet veranda in Bhelordanga, a young college girl continues to play the role of both student and teacher, proving that when systems fail, community courage keeps the flame of education alive.
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