A discussion on compensating for deaths caused by wildlife occurred in the Karnataka Assembly during a recent session. Congress MLA Puttarangasetty urged the government to provide financial relief to all snakebite victims, regardless of land ownership. He emphasized the need for broader compensation policies to cover all affected individuals, not just a limited scope.
Puttarangasetty highlighted the disparity in compensation policies, noting that while penalties are imposed for killing wild animals, compensation is not equally provided for those who lose their lives due to such animals. He specifically mentioned the lack of compensation for shepherds and individuals grazing cattle who do not own land.
The Forest Minister, Eshwar Khandre, responded by stating that the government already offers Rs 20 lakh compensation for deaths caused by major wild animals like tigers, leopards, and elephants. However, he clarified that snakebite cases are handled separately, with the Revenue Department providing Rs 2 lakh compensation for such incidents.
Puttarangasetty argued that the current system is insufficient, as compensation from the Revenue Department is limited to those with RTCs, primarily land-owning farmers. He questioned why shepherds and others without land ownership are excluded from compensation, despite facing risks from wildlife. The MLA also emphasized the importance of compensating individuals affected by wildlife attacks in residential areas, not just forest regions.
Khandre assured the Assembly that the government would review Puttarangasetty’s proposal and discuss it with the Chief Minister before making a decision.
