Lok Sabha Question No. 2449 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Compensation for Crop Damage
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Smt. Anita Nagarsingh Chouhan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2449

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025

## Compensation for Crop Damage

2449. SMT. ANITA NAGARSINGH CHOUHAN:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that in several districts of Madhya Pradesh particularly in  tribal  and  forest  areas,  various  wild  animals  including  Ghodaroj  (nilgai)  are  causing heavy damage to farmers' crops;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has prepared any list of such affected areas;
- (c) the details of claims received and compensation disbursed for crop damage during the last three years;
- (d) whether the Government is considering expansion of relief and preventive measures such as  solar  fencing,  check  walls,  repair  of  pits,  wildlife  management  teams,  etc.  for  crop protection; and
- (e) whether the Government is planning to implement a system of digital survey and online claims facility for providing speedy compensation to farmers?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (e)   Incidences of crop damage due to human-wildlife conflict are reported from different part of country from time to time. However, the management of wildlife including mitigation of human-animal conflicts is primarily the responsibility of the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration. The State Government/Union Territory Administration is the first responder in Human Wildlife Conflict situations. The information regarding such incidences are not collated at the level of Ministry.

The  Ministry  provides  financial  assistance  to  State  Governments  and  Union  Territory Administrations under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes 'Development of Wildlife Habitats' and 'Project Tiger and Elephant' for management of wildlife and its habitat in the country. The activities  supported  under  the  scheme  include  procurement  of  early  warning  systems, construction and erection of physical barriers such as barbed wire fence, solar, powered electric fence, bio-fencing, boundary walls etc. to prevent the entry of wild animals into crop fields, compensation for depredation by wild animals including cattle lifting, crop damage, loss of life and property. Rapid Response Teams are also deployed to mitigate Human-Wildlife Conflict. Further, the Ministry enhanced the amount of ex-gratia relief in case of death or permanent incapacitation due to wild animal attacks in December 2023 from Rs. 5 lakhs to 10 lakhs under these Schemes, subject to availability of funds, and the payment of which is also governed by State specific guidelines/ provisions made in this regard.

The details are given in the table below:

| S. No.   | Nature of damage caused by wild animals   | Amount of ex-gratia relief                                           |
|----------|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| i.       | Death or permanent incapacitation         | Rs.10.00 lakhs                                                       |
| ii.      | Grievous injury                           | Rs.2.00 lakhs                                                        |
| iii.     | Minor injury                              | Cost of treatment up to Rs.25,000/- per person                       |
| iv.      | Loss of property/crops                    | State/UT Government may adhere to the cost norms prescribed by them. |

As  per  information  received  from  the  State  of  Madhya  Pradesh,  almost  all  the  districts  of Madhya Pradesh are affected by crop damage due to wild animals. It is further informed that all claims of crop compensation and disbursements are handled by the revenue department in the State. Further, the state has informed that works on relief and preventive measures including Solar fencing, Game proof walls, formation of citizen groups etc. are being undertaken in the state

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