India
Kerala weighs higher wildlife conflict compensation rates
The Hindu··2d ago
Kerala's government is preparing a revised compensation package for human-wildlife conflict victims, Agriculture Ministry sources said. A State-level conclave is set for September 29 at Thiruvambady in Kozhikode district. Death compensation may rise from Rs 14 lakh to up to Rs 21 lakh. Kozhikode crop damage reached Rs 1.35 crore between January and August 14 this year.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Families of people killed by elephants, tigers, leopards or wild buffaloes may receive higher state payouts if the revision is notified.
- Farmers seeking crop-loss aid would face new uniform guidelines from a five-member expert panel.
- The September 29 Thiruvambady conclave is where the revised package is expected to be discussed publicly.
What's Happening
- Agriculture Minister T. Siddique has said compensation would be increased as per farmers' demands.
- A five-member panel headed by the Chief Wildlife Warden is drafting uniform compensation guidelines.
- Agriculture Department data put Kozhikode wildlife crop damage at Rs 1,35,29,000 across 72.42 hectares.
What victims receive today
- Current death payouts range from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 14 lakh from the state, plus Rs 4 lakh from KSDMA.
- Banana accounted for a major share of Kozhikode crop losses, with rubber, coconut, arecanut and nutmeg also hit.
- The panel is part of the United Democratic Front government's 100-day action programme.
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