Wildlife & Biodiversity

MoEF&CC increases compensation for crop damages and loss of life by wild animals

The compensation amount in case of loss of life by a wild animal has been increased from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh

 
By Ishan Kukreti
Published: Wednesday 28 February 2018

A blue bull Credit: FlickrThe Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's (MoEF&CC) Wildlife Division has increased ex-gratia relief under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes to victims for loss of life or property and crop damage by wild animals.

A circular sent by the Joint Director of Wildlife Division, Roy P Thomas to the Secretaries from the forest departments of all states and union territories acknowledged human-animal conflict as a burning issue.

The compensation amount in case of loss of life by a wild animal has been increased from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh. (See box below for more)

Nature of damage caused 

Amount of ex-gratia relief 

Amount of ex-gratia relief (2012)

Death or permanent incapacitation to human beings 

Rs. 5 lakh 

Rs. 2 lakh

Grievous injury 

Rs. 2 lakh 

30% of Rs.2 lakh 

Minor injury 

Cost of treatment up to Rs.25,000 per person 

Cost of treatment 

Loss of property/crops

State/UT governments may adhere to the cost norms prescribed them. 

Value of loss/damage assessed by authorised officer 


“Due to increasing human populations, human-animal conflict has also increased. That’s why we decided to increase the compensation amount,” a source at the MoEF&CC said, adding that compensation helps in maintaining people's participation in conservation efforts.

“There are times when a farmer takes a loan and then wild boars destroy the crop. The farmer cannot kill the boar as it is a protected animal. In such cases compensation becomes important to maintain a peaceful human-animal relationship,” the source said.

The enhanced compensation amounts are a guidelines for states to follow which have their own compensation rates.

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