Kaziranga's Van Durgas: CM Sarma salutes women forest guards on Navratri
Synopsis
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma used the sixth day of Navratri to shine a spotlight on Kaziranga's 108 Van Durgas — women from farming families who patrol a UNESCO World Heritage Site by vehicle, foot, and boat, protecting one-horned rhinos and tigers. A Navratri post became a conservation statement.
Key Takeaways
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed Kaziranga's women forest guards as 'Van Durgas' in an X post on 16 October 2026 , the sixth day of Navratri.
The first batch of 108 women was deployed at Kaziranga National Park in August 2023 — a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Many guards come from farming families and trained at the 11th Assam Police Battalion in Dergaon .
Their duties include protecting the endangered one-horned rhinoceros , elephants, tigers, and wild buffaloes, including during annual floods.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously met the Van Durgas at Kaziranga and described their courage as 'truly inspiring.'
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday, 16 October 2026, paid tribute to the women forest guards stationed at Kaziranga National Park, calling them the state's own 'Van Durgas' — frontline protectors of Assam's wildlife heritage and cultural identity. The Chief Minister's remarks came on the sixth day of Navratri, drawing a deliberate parallel between the warrior goddess Katyayani and the women who patrol one of India's most celebrated national parks.
The X Post That Sparked the Tribute
In a post shared on X, Chief Minister Sarma invoked the mythological significance of the day: 'On the sixth day, we worship Maa Katyayani, the warrior goddess who rose to defeat Mahishasura. In the groves of Vrindavan, the gopis worshipped her on the banks of the Yamuna, and she remains a fierce protector of all that is sacred.' He then linked that symbolism directly to Assam's forests: 'Assam's forests have their own Katyayanis,' he wrote, adding, 'When our daughters guard our forests, they guard Assam's identity itself.'
Who Are the Van Durgas
The first batch of 108 women joined Kaziranga National Park as frontline forest guards in August 2023, making them among the first such female cohort deployed at the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many come from farming families across Assam. Before deployment, they underwent rigorous training at the 11th Assam Police Battalion in Dergaon. Their duties span patrolling by vehicle, on foot, and by boat — including during the annual monsoon floods that regularly inundate large stretches of the Kaziranga landscape.
What They Protect
The Van Durgas are responsible for safeguarding Kaziranga's flagship species — the endangered one-horned rhinoceros, along with elephants, tigers, and wild buffaloes — as well as the park's broader fragile ecosystem against poaching and encroachment. Kaziranga is home to roughly two-thirds of the world's one-horned rhinoceros population, making effective frontline protection a matter of global conservation significance. This comes amid growing pressure on India's wildlife sanctuaries from poaching networks and habitat fragmentation.
PM Modi's Earlier Recognition
Chief Minister Sarma also recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally met the women forest guards during an earlier visit to Kaziranga and described their courage as 'truly inspiring.' That high-profile endorsement added national visibility to a programme that began at the state level and has since been cited as a model for women's participation in conservation efforts.
Broader Significance for Women in Conservation
The Van Durga initiative represents a widening trend of integrating women into frontline environmental roles across India. Notably, their induction challenges long-held assumptions about gendered roles in physically demanding, high-risk forest duties. Chief Minister Sarma expressed hope that Goddess Katyayani would bless the Van Durgas with 'strength and safety' as they continue their work in the wild. The Chief Minister's message combined the cultural weight of Navratri with a substantive policy statement on gender inclusion in wildlife management — signalling that Assam intends to expand such roles further.
Point of View
Equipment, and safety infrastructure — not just symbolic recognition. Women's inclusion in frontline conservation is genuinely progressive, but the test is whether it is backed by adequate institutional support or remains a headline initiative.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Van Durgas of Kaziranga?
The Van Durgas are women forest guards deployed at Kaziranga National Park in Assam. The first batch of 108 women joined in August 2023, trained at the 11th Assam Police Battalion in Dergaon, and are responsible for protecting endangered species including the one-horned rhinoceros.
Why did CM Sarma invoke Goddess Katyayani in his post?
Chief Minister Sarma made the post on the sixth day of Navratri, when Goddess Katyayani — a warrior deity — is worshipped. He drew a parallel between the goddess's role as a fierce protector and the Van Durgas' frontline conservation duties, using the religious occasion to spotlight women's contributions to wildlife protection.
What species do the Van Durgas protect at Kaziranga?
The women forest guards protect the endangered one-horned rhinoceros, elephants, tigers, and wild buffaloes at Kaziranga, which is home to roughly two-thirds of the world's one-horned rhino population. They also help safeguard the broader ecosystem against poaching and encroachment.
Has PM Modi acknowledged the Van Durgas?
Yes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the women forest guards during a visit to Kaziranga and described their courage as 'truly inspiring,' according to Chief Minister Sarma's account. The high-profile recognition gave national visibility to what began as a state-level initiative.
How do the Van Durgas patrol Kaziranga?
The women guards patrol Kaziranga National Park by vehicle, on foot, and by boat, including during the annual monsoon floods that inundate large parts of the park. Their duties cover both anti-poaching operations and broader ecosystem protection across the sprawling UNESCO World Heritage Site.
