Bhubaneswar: In a significant move aimed at providing greater relief to victims of human-wildlife conflict, Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi has announced a substantial increase in the death benefit for wildlife attacks, raising it from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 10 lakh in Odisha.
This decision, reflecting the state government’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens, particularly those residing in forest-fringe villages, comes with enhanced assistance for property damage as well.
Villages situated in close proximity to forests are often at a heightened risk of encounters with wild animals, leading to tragic loss of life, injuries, and damage to property and livelihoods. Recognizing the profound impact of such incidents on both human lives and biodiversity, the Chief Minister underscored the necessity of robust support for affected communities.
Beyond the enhanced death benefit, the new provisions offer comprehensive financial aid for various forms of damage:
- House Damage: If a house is damaged due to a wildlife attack, financial assistance equivalent to the cost of a new house will be provided under the Antyoday Griha Yojana.
- Minor Property Damage: For damage to essential structures such as kitchens, grain storage houses, or goat sheds, a compassionate assistance amount of Rs 3,000 will be extended.
- Structural Damage: In cases where concrete walls or compound walls are damaged, a compassionate assistance of Rs 5,000 per meter will be provided, with a maximum limit of Rs 25,000.
This upward revision of compensation aims to alleviate the financial burden on families devastated by wildlife encounters, ensuring they receive adequate support for recovery and rebuilding.
Latest Statistics on Human-Wildlife Conflict in Odisha:
Odisha has consistently reported a high incidence of human-wildlife conflict, particularly involving elephants. Recent data highlights the pressing need for such enhanced compensation:
- Fatalities: As per information presented in the State Legislative Assembly by Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, a staggering 799 people lost their lives due to wild animal attacks in Odisha over the past five years (from 2020-21 to 2024-25 so far). In the current year (as of September 2024), at least 68 people have been killed in such attacks.
- Injuries: Beyond fatalities, 1,962 individuals sustained injuries from wild animal attacks during the 2020-21 to 2024-25 period.
- Property and Crop Damage: During the current year (as of September 2024), 1,087 houses and crops over 2315.79 acres were damaged due to human-wildlife conflict. Previously, between 2012-13 and 2021-22, 13,408 houses were damaged and over 136,195 acres of crops were affected.
- Elephant Attacks: Elephants are a primary cause of human-wildlife conflict in the state. From 2012-13 to 2021-22, 905 deaths and 586 injuries were attributed to elephant attacks alone. More recently, Odisha recorded 154 human deaths due to elephants in 2023-24, the highest among all states in India.
- Hotspots: Dhenkanal forest division has emerged as a significant hotspot, recording the highest number of human deaths (147) over the last five years, followed by Angul (76) and Keonjhar (69).
The previous compensation for death due to wildlife attacks was increased from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh in May 2023. However, wildlife activists had called for a further increase, emphasizing the severe economic impact on affected families. This latest decision by Chief Minister Majhi addresses those concerns, bringing Odisha’s death benefit in line with or exceeding that of many other states and significantly strengthening the safety net for its vulnerable populations.
The government is also reportedly exploring technological interventions, such as an AI-supported e-surveillance project in areas like Chandaka forest division, to monitor animal movements and provide advance alerts to human habitations, thereby aiming to reduce such unfortunate incidents.