Ex-gratia assistance ensured for human casualties in wildlife conflict: Forest Minister

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL 

JAMMU, FEBRUARY 19:-The Government today apprised the Legislative Assembly that under the prevailing policy framework on human–wildlife conflict in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, compensation or ex-gratia relief is provided in cases of human injury or loss of life.

This was stated by Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana while replying to a question raised by Sajad Shaheen.

Legislators, Choudhary Mohammad Akram, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, and Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi raised supplementary questions on the subject, urging the Government to provide adequate relief measures and ensure the inclusion of the agriculture sector and livestock under the relevant schemes to safeguard farmers’ interests.

Responding to their concerns, the minister said that currently there is no approved policy or budgetary provision specifically earmarked for compensation of livestock losses due to wildlife attacks in the Union Territory.

However, he said that the government is in correspondence with the Animal Husbandry Department to provide compensatory support to farmers in case of loss of animals.

He also said that the Forest Department is in talks with the Agriculture Department and other concerned authorities regarding the inclusion of additional crops under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in case of damage by wild animals.