Centre urged to pay compensation to families of farmers killed in wild animal attack

he Centre should pay compensation of ₹10 lakh to the family of persons killed in wild animal attacks on the lines of the relief given by State Government, said State president of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam P. Shanmugam

The Centre should pay compensation of ₹10 lakh to the family of persons killed in wild animal attacks on the lines of the relief given by State Government, said State president of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam P. Shanmugam.

Addressing a demonstration held seeking compensation for crop loss and loss of life due to invasion of wild animals by the sangam here on Monday, Mr. Shanmugam said that in the name of developing tourism, the government was allowing foreign tourists to visit forests.

With the intrusion of men into the forest, wild animals were coming out of the forest into human habitations. Elephants, tigers, wild boars, and bears invade farmlands and destroy crops.

The State government should take action to curb the invasion of wild boars into farmlands on the lines of what was done by the Kerala Government. Stating that ₹2,000 crore worth crops were lost by farmers in Tamil Nadu because of wild animals, he said the State government, which faced financial crisis, could not compensate for such a huge loss. Hence, the Centre should give relief to farmers, he added.

The ceiling of giving compensation of only ₹25,000 an acre for crop lost by farmers was not justifiable. This should be increased, he said.

Mr. Shanmugam said ₹50,000 for farmers who sustain grievous injuries in wild animal attack was not adequate. “When the victim suffer permanent disability, how can they sustain their livelihood with ₹50,000?” he asked.

Such farmers should be given life-time pension.