Resolve Cases of Human Casualties and Crop Damage by Wild Animals with Sensitivity: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai

CM Sai Reviews the Work of the Forest and Climate Change Department

Raipur, Aug 2025 : Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has given clear instructions that compensation assistance for cases of human casualties, livestock loss, and crop damage caused by violent wild animals should be provided promptly, in accordance with rules, and with utmost sensitivity. Residents living in forest areas often endure the pain of losing their loved ones due to wildlife attacks. The Chief Minister emphasized that a humane and immediate resolution of such incidents is essential.

CM Sai was addressing the review meeting of the Forest and Climate Change Department at the Mahanadi Bhawan, Nava Raipur, today. He pointed out that incidents of human-wildlife conflict, especially involving elephants and other violent wild animals, resulting in human casualties, livestock loss, and crop damage, are emerging as serious challenges in the state’s forest regions. In such situations, it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that the affected receive prompt and fair assistance. He instructed that all related cases should be resolved swiftly and in strict adherence to regulations.

The Chief Minister highlighted that wild elephants not only damage major crops like paddy but also inflict heavy losses on cash crops such as sugarcane, bananas, papayas, and jackfruit, leading to severe economic and psychological distress for farmers. During the meeting, CM Sai also reviewed the updated status of individual forest rights pattas issued in the state.

Forest and Climate Change Minister Kedar Kashyap, while addressing the officials, directed that the departmental coordination be further strengthened to ensure that government-provided assistance reaches the affected people on time. A proposal to increase the compensation rates for human casualties, permanent disabilities, livestock loss, house damage, and crop loss was also presented during the meeting.

Discussions were also held on the financial assistance provided under the RBC (Revenue Book Circular) provisions for crop damage caused by natural disasters.

Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, Additional Chief Secretary (Forest) Richa Sharma, Principal Secretary to CM Subodh Kumar Singh, CM’s Secretary Rahul Bhagat, Agriculture Department Secretary Shahla Nigar, Revenue and Disaster Management Secretary Avinash Champawat, Planning, Economic, and Statistics Secretary Ankit Anand, Forest Secretary Amarnath Prasad, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Sudhir Agrawal, Additional Chief Conservator of Forests Prem Kumar, and other senior officials were present at the meeting.