Wildlife Trust of India organized four-day long Gaj Mahotsav from August 12-15, 2018 at Indira Gandhi National Arts Centre, New Delhi. The key objectives of this event were to protect elephants and their corridors for safe passage. The representatives of non-governmental organizations from eight States of India viz. Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Kerala, and Uttarakhand which are actively involved in conserving the animal kingdom including elephants participated in this event.
There are 101 Elephant Corridors in India and Wildlife Trust of India is working on all of them. Corbett Gram Vikas Samiti, Chhoti Haldwani represented the State of Uttarakhand at the event. The Samiti also had its stall in order to endorse the notion of rural tourism and products by local community. The Samiti received Certificate of Appreciation as Green Corridor Champions at the event. The Samiti has assumed the responsibility of creating awareness in the schools in the region regarding the protection of elephants at Fatehpur and Gadgadiya Elephant Corridors.
Mr. Suresh Prabhu, Honourable Union Minister of Commerce & Industry inaugurated the event.
The event was attended by Mr. Vivek Menon, CEO, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), Mr. Azidine Donnis of International Fund For Animal Welfare (IFAW), and Mr. Prasoon Joshi, Chairman, Central Film Board of India. Mrs. Dia Mirza who is the Brand Ambassador of Wildlife Trust of India was also present.
Mr. Rajkumar Pandey, President, Corbett Gram Vikas Samiti, Mr. Mohan Chandra Pandey, Secretary, Corbett Gram Vikas Samiti, Mr. Indra Bisht, Manager, Corbett Gram Vikas Samiti represented the Samiti and the State of Uttarakhand at the event.
