Beekeeper Bishnu Tamang of Changa forest busty, a remote forest village near Panighata in Mirik block of Darjeeling district, makes honey, but doesn't know how to market it.

Anil Roy, an artisan of Ghoshpukur on the outskirts of Siliguri, makes handicraft items from bamboo, but doesn't know how to attract more buyers.

Rikjyoti Singha Roy, the founder trustee of Jumbo Troops, a nature lovers' organisation based in Bagdogra, said people like Bishnu and Anil had one thing in common.

"They live in locations where elephant depredation is a routine problem. They are trying to earn a living through ways other than farming as they have borne huge losses over the years with elephants damaging their crops,” Singha Roy said.

To help such people, his organisation, along with the Kurseong forest division of the state forest department, has taken up the onus to stand by these people, along with hundreds of others beleaguered by the frequent intrusion of elephants in their villages.

“From tomorrow (Friday), we are hosting a three-day fair to support farmers and others who live in such villages. We will provide them with a platform where they can showcase their produce and develop better market linkages. We will also apprise farmers about alternative agricultural practices to mitigate their loss from elephant attacks,” said Singha Roy.

Named “Hati Bandhu Mela (a fair of the friends of elephants)", the event would be held on the premises of the Bagdogra forest range. During the fair, the organisers will also launch “Hati Bazar (elephant market)", a portal to support the villagers to sell their farm produce and handicraft items online.

“Recurring incidents of elephant depredation brew grievances among the people. We are organising the event to ensure that the villagers keep in mind the need to conserve elephants and refrain from any move that can harm the animals,” said a forester.

He pointed out that on many occasions, it was found that after elephants caused harm to crops, property or human lives, villagers laid live wires around their farms. In many cases, elephants died due to electrocution.

Devesh Pandey, the Kurseong divisional forest officer, said they intended to support villagers so that they could find alternative means of income.

“We are putting in efforts to deter elephants from entering human habitats near forests. Simultaneously, we want villagers to explore alternative earning options, for which the fair will help,” he said.