Mysuru: Members of various farmers’ associations have urged the state govt to increase compensation for snakebite victims.At present, the Karnataka govt provides a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to victims of fatal snakebite incidents. Pointing out that the govt offers Rs 20 lakh compensation for deaths caused by wild animal attacks and Rs 5 lakh for dog-bite victims, farmers’ organisations have demanded a similar increase in compensation for snakebite deaths.The twin districts of Mysuru and Chamarajanagar have recorded nearly three dozen snakebite deaths and 2,817 snakebite cases over the last three years. According to data collected by the state agriculture department and the district surveillance wing, Chamarajanagar alone reported 13 snakebite deaths and 1,071 snakebite cases during the period.With large forested areas covering both districts, the majority of snakebite incidents were reported from villages located along forest fringes. Most fatalities involved farmers and agricultural or horticultural labourers working in fields and farmhouses situated near forest and hilly regions.Although the state govt classified snakebite as a notifiable disease two years ago, compensation of Rs 2 lakh is currently provided only to registered farmers and agricultural labourers affected by snakebite incidents. No compensation is available to other victims who die after being bitten by snakes while walking on roads, cleaning gardens, or in locations other than agricultural fields.Wildlife conservationists and snake rescuers are also not eligible for compensation if they die from snakebites sustained during rescue operations, unlike farmers, said Chamarajanagar-based snake rescuer Ashok.He said the govt should extend compensation benefits to people involved in snake rescue operations as well as to other members of the public who die from snakebites. He added that the state has begun systematically recording snakebite deaths through district surveillance departments in recent years.Bhanuprakash, joint director of agriculture in Chamarajanagar, said that only registered farmers are eligible for the Rs 2 lakh compensation under the state govt’s accidental death assistance scheme. To claim the compensation, the victim’s family must submit RTC and land ownership documents, he said.He explained that a committee headed by the assistant commissioner verifies the documents and recommends the release of compensation to the govt.Attahalli Devaraj, general secretary of the Mysuru district unit of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha pointed out that states such as Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh provide Rs 5 lakh compensation to snakebite victims.Elephant damages coffee cropMadikeri: A lone elephant entered the premises of a farmhouse and damaged crops in Guhya village.The tusker, which had been spotted in the coffee plantation of KV Venugopal in Guhya for the past week, entered the house compound and roamed around the premises. It also entered a shed located next to the house. The elephant’s movements around the property were captured on CCTV cameras.Coffee growers said wild elephants camping in coffee plantations have been frequently causing havoc by destroying coffee plants that are ready for harvest. The villagers have urged the forest department to take immediate action and relocate the elephant back to the forest to prevent further damage to crops and property.
