Women Protectors of Assam’s Wildlife Celebrate Heroic Role in National Park

Assam’s chief minister used her Navratri post to celebrate the heroic contributions of women serving as forest protectors in Kaziranga National Park. Drawing a parallel with the mythic deity Katyayani, she called the 108 female guards “Van Durgas” – the shields of the forest.

These women, many hailing from agrarian families, completed rigorous training at the 11th Assam Police Battalion in Dergaon before joining the park’s frontline in August 2023. Their everyday tasks involve patrolling the dense grasslands, monitoring wildlife movement, and conducting boat patrols when floodwaters rise.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the park included a meeting with the women guards, during which he lauded their courage as a source of inspiration. The chief minister reiterated that the security of Assam’s natural heritage rests on the shoulders of these dedicated women.

She concluded with a prayer to goddess Katyayani, seeking divine blessings for continued strength, safety and unwavering resolve for every “Van Durga” protecting Assam’s forests.