Kin of nilgai, monkey attack victims too to get compensation

Nagpur: Kin of victims, who die in attacks by nilgais and monkeys, will get Rs15 lakh as compensation and those injured will get aid up to Rs1.25 lakh. This is for the first time that nilgais and monkeys have been included in the list of wild animals involved in attacks.
The decision was taken by Maharashtra forest minister Sanjay Rathod at a meeting in Mantralaya on Wednesday. The official government note will be issued in a day or two.
“Till now kin of those who died in tiger, leopard, sloth bear, wild dog, wild boar, gaur, crocodile, elephant, fox and wolf attacks only used to get compensation. We have added nilgai and monkey to the list now,” Rathod told TOI.
The minister said of the Rs15 lakh, a cheque of Rs3 lakh will be handed over to the kin immediately. The remaining Rs12 lakh will be kept as fixed deposit and interest towards this amount will be deposited in the savings bank account.
For injuries that need to be treated at private hospitals there will be a cap of Rs20,000 per person. In case of permanent disability, the victim will get Rs5 lakh compensation.
According to sources, the government is also contemplating to provide financial assistance to snake bite victims. All snakes are listed in Schedule I-IV under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
“There have been demand from people’s representatives to give compensation to snake bite victims but owing to many cases, the issue was never taken up seriously. There are several nitty-gritty’s in such cases which will be resolved before taking a final decision,” said sources close to forest minister.