In a small tribal hamlet in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, near Assam’s Goalpara district, a group of dedicated women vigilantly monitors a single-strand solar-powered fence that protects their village from wild elephant incursions after dusk.
These women, mostly housewives, assist their male counterparts in maintaining the solar fence, following training provided by Aaranyak (www.aaranyak.org) during its installation.
“We know the fence is fragile and must be well-guarded to prevent wild elephants from damaging it,” said Ayan Debi Rabha, vice president of the Solar Fence Management Committee in Borogobal, a village of 24 households. “While it’s not a permanent solution to the human-elephant conflict, it currently protects our village, which used to be plagued by fear and panic before the fence was installed.”
The committee also includes two other women from the village: Saima Rabha (general secretary) and Jayanti Rabha (treasurer). The women have been trained to manage and operate the solar fence, ensuring its functionality in emergencies or when the men are absent.
In a recent incident, the quick actions of one of these women in activating the fence’s power source saved a villager from a dangerous encounter with wild elephants.
The 1.2 km solar-powered fence was installed in Borogobal in November 2023 by Aaranyak and the British Asian Trust, with support from the Darwin Initiative. It was designed to protect the village from frequent elephant invasions that disrupted daily life and caused widespread fear.
“Before the solar fence was installed, all the villagers would take shelter together in one house every night to avoid the elephants,” said Jayanti Rabha. “Now, we can stay at home, care for our children, and enjoy uninterrupted sleep. The villagers’ overall health and quality of life have significantly improved.”
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The village, typically quiet on a summer afternoon, now sees women chatting in their courtyards while children play, and men rest after a hard day in the paddy fields.
Saima Rabha, who works at the local Anganwadi Centre, noted, “The villagers have resumed their social and cultural activities at night without fear, thanks to the fence.”
Besides providing protection, the solar fence has empowered these women, building their confidence and sense of responsibility. Treasurer Jayanti Rabha efficiently collects a monthly maintenance fee of Rs 50 per household, and some women have even learned to perform minor repairs on the fence.
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