The process of obtaining compensation for damage caused by wild animals is complicated, slow, and uncertain, causing frustration among the general public.
What you should know
Farmers in the mountainous, hilly, and Terai districts of Koshi Province have been suffering huge losses from wild animals such as elephants, leopards, bears, deer, and monkeys for years.
Some have even lost their lives due to wild animal attacks. The victims are often harassed due to the complicated process and cumbersome provisions for getting relief and compensation for damage caused by wild animals. Due to the cumbersome process, the affected farmers have been deprived of compensation. That is why most of the general public do not even apply for relief, hoping for relief.
The government had issued a guideline in 2069 for the distribution of relief for damage caused by wild animals. The old guideline was revised in 2080 and the amount of relief received by the victims for death, injury, livestock and damage to physical structures due to wild animal attacks has been increased. Earlier, there was a provision to provide Rs 500,000 as relief in the event of death due to wild animal attacks. According to the new guideline, Rs 1 million will be provided to the deceased family and Rs 500,000 to the injured with dismemberment. There is a provision to provide a maximum of Rs 200,000 for the treatment of seriously injured people. The guidelines state that if the cost exceeds Rs 200,000, emergency treatment at the nearest hospital will be provided with the recommendation of the hospital. If treatment is provided at a government hospital, the entire cost will be borne.
The maximum amount of compensation for livestock killed by wild animals, including buffaloes, cows, bulls, high-grade cows, horses, mules, and goats, will be increased from Rs 30,000 to Rs 60,000 based on evaluation. If a house or barn is damaged by wild animals, a maximum of Rs 20,000 will be provided as compensation.
However, farmers complain that they have to wait for relief and compensation. They complain that they have to visit many agencies just to apply and that they get little money in the end, which means that the cost is more than the relief.
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