The Old Changsu Village Council has appealed to the Deputy Commissioner of Wokha district for urgent financial assistance following extensive damage to crops and paddy fields caused by wild elephant incursions.

Addressing a press conference at the Village Council Hall on August 11, Council leaders expressed concern over what they termed negligence by the concerned departments. They pointed out that officials had failed to visit the affected sites in previous years and no compensation had been extended to farmers despite repeated losses.

The Council informed that during a general meeting held on August 8, the community resolved to submit documentation—including photographs of destroyed crops and a list of affected farmers—to the Deputy Commissioner, the District Forest Office, and the Wildlife Warden, Wokha. With the harvest season approaching, they anticipate further elephant raids and stressed the urgency of immediate intervention to safeguard livelihoods and ensure food security.

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Highlighting the plight of farmers, the Council proposed that compensation this year should include the provision of one bag of rice per affected household for a period of one year, as many families are struggling to cultivate their fields and sustain themselves.

The Council cautioned that if their grievances remain unaddressed, the community may be compelled to resort to traditional practices such as hunting. They asserted that responsibility would rest with the authorities should the government fail to act on their demands.