Lok Sabha Question No. 4962 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Special Relief Package to the Victims of Animal Attack
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4962

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026

## Special Relief Package to the Victims of Animal Attack

## 4962. SHRI BHAUSAHEB RAJARAM WAKCHAURE:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to release compensation and a special relief package for the victims and the kin of people died and injured due to wild animal attack in the Shirdi Lok Sabha Constituency in Maharashtra immediately;
- (b) whether the Government acknowledges that the current compensation processes is proving to be overly complex, slow and ineffective for the victims;
- (c) the number of affected families provided assistance so far and the number of cases yet to be settled; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to set up a special cell to provide medical assistance, rehabilitation support and social security benefits to the affected families immediately and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d) 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/UT Administration are the first responders to any conflict situation and they maintain the details of the conflict along with the species involved.

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 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. |

The States/Union Territories make ex-gratia payments for loss of livestock, crops and human life including injuries due to human-wildlife conflicts as per the norms, which vary in States and UTs.

As per the advisory of the Ministry dated 6 th  february 2021, a suitable portion of ex-gratia relief should be paid within 24 hours to the affected persons in the case of death and injury to persons. It also recommends State level and District Level Committees for improving coordination for timely payment of ex-gratia amount.

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