Haathi Mere Saathi Campaign -

The campaign’s policy of offering financial packages to families living inside corridors is humane but slow. Many families refuse, and the campaign lacks legal teeth (e.g., eminent domain powers) to expedite removals. Some conservationists argue this prioritizes political correctness over elephant survival.

Launched in 2010 (with major renewed phases in 2017 and 2020), the campaign’s name translates to “Elephant My Friend.” Its primary goal is to secure and restore elephant corridors —vital pathways that allow herds to migrate between fragmented forest patches. Unlike many awareness-only campaigns, Haathi Mere Saathi focuses on tangible, on-ground action: land acquisition, voluntary relocation of villages blocking corridors, and community engagement. Strengths (Positive Review) 1. Action-Oriented, Not Just Awareness Most wildlife campaigns stop at slogans. Haathi Mere Saathi has a clear metric: kilometers of elephant corridor restored . By partnering with state forest departments (notably in West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Kerala), the campaign has helped secure critical passages like the Tirunelli-Kudrakote corridor in the Western Ghats. haathi mere saathi campaign

Highly support, with caveats. If you are a donor, this is one of the few campaigns where your money buys actual land (not just billboards). However, pair your support with advocacy for faster, more state-led corridor acquisition—because elephants cannot wait for voluntary consensus. For an individual, the campaign is an excellent entry point to understand HEC, but follow up by supporting local grassroots groups working on conflict resolution at the village level. The campaign’s policy of offering financial packages to

The campaign is strong in South and East India but has minimal presence in Assam or Odisha, where elephant deaths (especially from train hits and electrocution) are highest. Donors should note this uneven distribution. Overall Verdict | Aspect | Rating (out of 5) | Notes | |--------|------------------|-------| | Ecological Impact | ★★★★☆ | Real corridors restored, but pace slow. | | Community Engagement | ★★★☆☆ | Innovative but overly voluntary. | | Transparency & Accountability | ★★★★★ | Gold standard for reporting. | | Public Reach | ★★★★☆ | Film + celebrities created mass awareness. | | Cost-Effectiveness | ★★★☆☆ | Land acquisition in India is expensive; some funds go to high-profile events. | Launched in 2010 (with major renewed phases in

The Bollywood film, while well-intentioned, was criticized for anthropomorphizing elephants and villainizing all local farmers (portrayed as greedy). This risks alienating the very communities the campaign needs as allies. Real HEC is nuanced—poverty, crop dependence, and poor land-use planning are systemic issues, not just “bad people.”