Odisha govt hikes relief amount to Rs 6 lakh

BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Wednesday increased the compensation amount in case of death in attacks by animals from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh.
The victim's family members can claim the ex-gratia compensation of Rs 6 lakh if he or she succumbs to injuries caused by an attack by wild animals such as elephant, leopard, tiger, wild boar, bear, crocodile, bison, hyena and wild dog.
The government also increased the compensation amount for those suffering injuries in such attacks. In attacks causing less than 60% disability, it increased the compensation from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh and in case of more than 60% disability, the injured victim will receive Rs 2.5 lakh.
Rs 5,000 for mild injuries in animal attacks
In cases of mild and temporary injuries, a person is entitled to receive Rs 5,000 and the treatment will be free of cost at a government-run hospital. An additional amount of Rs 5,000 will be given if the treatment takes more than a week's time.
"In cases where there is loss of paddy crop, including cereals, the compensation amount has been increased from Rs 10,000 (per acre) to Rs 20,000. For cash crop or non-paddy crops, a farmer can get Rs 25,000 per acre. Earlier, it was Rs 12,000 per acre," chief wildlife warden S K Popli said.
In partial damage to houses by animals, the amount has been increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000. If the house is completely damaged, a Biju pucca house or a compensation amount proportion to the cost of the damaged house and Rs 10,000 will be given.
The state has been seeing a steady rise in human fatalities in elephant attacks. On March 21, state forest minister Pradip Amat had told the assembly that 669 people had died in Odisha in the past five years while 416 elephants died during the same period.