Lok Sabha Question No. 559 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-24
Subject: Human-Animal Conflict
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: K. Muraleedharan, M. K. Raghavan, Thomas Chazhikadan, S. Muniswamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 559

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2023

## Human-Animal Conflict

## 559.     SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN:

SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

SHRI THOMAS CHAZHIKADAN:

SHRI S. MUNISWAMY:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  initiative  to  reduce  human-animal  conflict  in different States and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of people died in the State of Kerala due to human animal conflict along with the  steps  taken  for  the  fencing  of  wildlife  sanctuaries  and  protected  forests  in  order  to check the same;
- (c) the  amount  of  compensation  paid  for  the  deaths  due  to  wildlife  attacks  by  the Government and whether there is a uniform law being followed across all the States;
- (d) whether the Government is inclined to pay a monthly compensation for a certain period to  the  victims  of  the  wild  animals  like the one  announced  by the State  Government of Karnataka recently; and
- (e) the  highest  amount  of  compensation  paid  by  any  State  and  whether  the  Government proposes to issue guidelines to all the State Governments regarding this, apart from the monthly compensation announced plus an ex-gratia of Rs. 15 lakhs paid and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) and (b) The Ministry has issued advisories to all States/UTs for better management  of  situations  arising  out  of  human-animal  conflict.  The advisories recommend various measures that may be adopted by States to prevent and manage such conflicts. These include coordinated interdepartmental action, identification of conflict hot spots, adherence to Standard  Operating  Procedures,  establishment  of  rapid  response  teams, formation of State and District level committees to review the quantum of ex-gratia relief, issuing guidance/instructions for expedited payments, and provision  of  adequate  funds  for  payment  of  ex-gratia  relief  to  affected persons in case of human death and injury.

Protection and Management of wildlife is primarily the responsibility of the  concerned  State/UT  Governments.  The  details  of  people  died  in  the States  due  to  human  animal  conflict  are  not  collated  at  the  level  of Ministry.

- (c) to (e) The  States/Union  Territories  pay  compensation  as  per  their  norms.  The amount of compensation varies from State to State and not collated at the level of Ministry.

Further,  financial  assistance  is  provided  by  the  Ministry  to  States/Union Territories  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  of  'Development  of Wildlife Habitats', 'Project Tiger' and 'Project Elephant' for management of wildlife and its habitats and for mitigation of human-wildlife conflict in and around protected areas and also for conducting awareness campaigns to sensitize and advise the general public. The amount of ex gratia relief payable under the scheme is as follows:

| S. No.   | Nature of damage caused by wild animals           | Amount of ex-gratia relief                                   |
|----------|---------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
| (a)      | Death or permanent incapacitation to human beings | Rs.5 lakh                                                    |
| (b)      | Grievous injury                                   | Rs. 2 lakh                                                   |
| (c)      | Minor injury                                      | Cost of treatment up to Rs 25000/-                           |
| (d)      | Loss of property/crops                            | States /UTs may adhere to the cost norms prescribed by them. |