The Forest Department is going to train the Tamil Nadu Home Guards in handling man-animal conflict in the Valparai region, where elephants frequently enter the habitations causing damage to crops and houses. The training programme was inaugurated on Sunday and will cover the safety measures needed to avoid animal attacks. They include storing rice and salt at PDS shops in a manner that does not attract elephants, not leaving babies unattended as it left them vulnerable to leopards, besides avoiding crackers. The personnel will be trained on the light and sound alert systems. They will also be given training on the SMS service introduced by Forest Department. It will send alerts on the movement of animals to the nearest forest department outpost. The personnel will raise the alert through sound systems. The training programme will be held for a fortnight with 30 Home Guards taking part in it. The personnel will act as master trainers who will train others. Once the training is completed, they will begin assisting the Forest Department. Rajiv K. Srivastava, Field Director and Chief Conservator of Forests, Anamalai Tiger Reserve, said that the initiative was aimed at capacity-building among stakeholders to take swift action during an exigency. The personnel will urge the labourers to clear thick bushes near their habitations as it was a potential hiding place for animals. Attacks on fair price outlets have declined following introduction of mobile outlets, M. Sudhakar, Superintendent of Police- Coimbatore Rural, took part. District Area Commander B. Balaji said that this was the first time that the Forest Department had tied up with the Home Guards to handle the man-animal conflict.