Human-animal conflict in Keralam: Compensation for victims likely to be revised
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Compensation for victims of human-wildlife conflict is likely to be enhanced by the Keralam government, even as crop damage caused by wildlife in Kozhikode crossed โน1.35 crore in the first eight months of this year, highlighting the growing pressure on farmers in the district.
Sources in the Ministry of Agriculture confirm that the revised compensation package is likely to be announced after the State-level conclave on human-wildlife conflict to be held at Thiruvambady on September 29.
The compensation for families of those killed in wildlife attacks could be raised from the existing โน14 lakh to up to โน21 lakh. Assistance for those injured and treatment expenses may also be enhanced.
โThe proposed revision is expected to take into account recommendations from various farmersโ organisations and experts from the Kerala Forest Research Institute and Kerala Agricultural University, besides other stakeholders,โ says a senior leader with the Karshaka Congress who was part of various delegations on the issue. He points out that a similar revision is expected in the case of crop loss.
Agriculture Minister T. Siddique had recently indicated that the compensation would be increased as per farmersโ demands. At present, the family of a person killed in an attack by an elephant, tiger, leopard or wild buffalo is eligible for โน10 lakh-โน14 lakh from the State government and โน4 lakh from the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA).
According to Agriculture department officials, the State government has already constituted a five-member expert committee to prepare guidelines for determining and providing compensation to people killed or injured in human-wildlife conflicts. The Chief Wildlife Warden is the head of the panel, with the member secretary of KSDMA, the Land Revenue Commissioner, and the directors of Animal Husbandry and Agriculture as members, they say.
The move is aimed at formulating uniform guidelines and accurate criteria for assessing compensation, reducing the need for case-by-case administrative scrutiny and preventing delays in pay out. The constitution of the committee forms part of the United Democratic Front governmentโs 100-day action programme.
The possible increase in compensation comes against the backdrop of mounting crop losses. According to Agriculture Department data, crops worth โน1,35,29,000 were damaged in Kozhikode between January and August 14. Cultivation spread across 72.42 hectares was affected, with banana accounting for a major share of the losses. Rubber, coconut, arecanut and nutmeg were among the other crops damaged.
โThe September 29 conclave is expected to discuss scientific and practical measures to prevent wildlife from entering agricultural land,โ said one of the coordinators of the State-level programme.
According to him, the Agriculture Department has proposed measures including artificial intelligence, bio-fencing and technology-based barriers, besides conventional methods.
The demand for higher compensation gained momentum after the death of Sunil, a court employee from Nadapuram, in a wild buffalo attack at Vilangad last month. Local residents had delayed his funeral as part of a protest demanding an increase in compensation.
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