Kerala Government Announces ₹4 Lakh Compensation for Snakebite Deaths

The Kerala government has issued new guidelines to provide compensation for human-wildlife conflicts. Under these rules, the government will provide:

₹4 lakh compensation for snakebite deaths.
₹1 lakh compensation for property damage caused by wildlife attacks.
This decision was made by the State Disaster Management Authority’s executive committee, chaired by Chief Secretary Sharada Muraleedharan. Earlier, snakebite deaths were not included in the compensation list, but now the government has revised its policy.

Emergency Operations Center for Wildlife Attacks

The Forest Department has allocated ₹3.72 crore to establish control rooms at the state and departmental levels. These centers will help in:

Immediate response to wildlife attacks.
Ensuring the smooth operation of emergency measures.

Rising Human-Wildlife Conflicts in Kerala

Kerala has witnessed a rise in wildlife attacks, including incidents involving elephants, tigers, and leopards.

Some recent cases include

A woman in Idukki, Sophia Ismail (45), was killed by an elephant.
A leopard attack killed Radha, a relative of Indian cricketer Minnu Mani.
Due to these increasing attacks, the government has formed a high-level committee to implement preventive measures.

Government’s Initiative for Wildlife Conflict Management

The Kerala government’s decision aims to:

Support families affected by wildlife attacks.
Balance human and wildlife coexistence.
Strengthen wildlife monitoring and response systems.
This policy will provide financial relief to affected families while ensuring better management of human-wildlife interactions.