Ranchi: In a move to address the escalating issue of man-animal conflicts, the Jharkhand state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday, approved a significant hike in ex gratia payments for deaths and compensation for injuries caused by wild animals.
New Compensation Details
Cabinet Coordination Department Secretary Vandana Dadel announced that the government has amended the compensation rules related to damages inflicted by wild animals. Under the revised norms, the next of kin of a deceased victim will receive Rs 10 lakh, a substantial increase from the previous Rs 4 lakh. Compensation for injuries has also been enhanced.
Injury Compensation
- Grievous injuries: Increased to Rs 2 lakh from Rs 1.5 lakh.
- Minor injuries: Raised to Rs 35,000, up by Rs 10,000.
- Permanent disability: Now Rs 3.50 lakh, compared to the earlier Rs 3.25 lakh.
Standard Operating Procedures Approved
Dadel outlined the new SOPs for compensation disbursal. In case of death, the victim's family will receive Rs 1 lakh immediately after certification from the local mukhiya or gram pradhan. An additional Rs 4 lakh will be provided upon submission of the death certificate. The remaining amount must be disbursed within three days. Furthermore, a forest department team is required to reach the incident site within six hours with mitigation plans.
Context of Man-Animal Conflict in Jharkhand
Jharkhand, with nearly 30% forest cover, faces severe man-animal conflict. Since January, about a dozen districts have witnessed heightened conflicts, leading to casualties. Between January and February, a lone elephant killed at least 22 people in West Singhbhum alone. In December last year, another elephant killed nearly a dozen people in Ramgarh district. The new measures aim to provide timely relief and improve response to such incidents.
