Raipur, August 5, 2025: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has issued clear instructions that in cases of human casualties, livestock losses, and crop damage caused by violent wild animals, compensation should be provided promptly, as per rules, and with a sensitive approach. He emphasized that people living in forest areas often endure the pain of losing loved ones due to such animal attacks, and in such situations, swift redressal of their grievances with a humanitarian outlook is essential.
Chief Minister Sai was addressing a review meeting of the Forest and Climate Change Department today at Mahanadi Bhavan, Nava Raipur. He stated that incidents involving human-elephant conflict and other wild animal attacks resulting in loss of life, livestock, and crops have emerged as significant challenges in the forested regions of the state. In such situations, it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that victims receive timely and just assistance. He instructed that all related cases must be resolved quickly and in accordance with the rules.
He further stated that wild elephants not only destroy major crops like paddy but also cause heavy damage to cash crops such as sugarcane, banana, papaya, and jackfruit, resulting in both financial and mental distress for farmers. The Chief Minister also reviewed the current status of individual forest rights pattas (land titles) granted in the state.
During the meeting, Forest and Climate Change Minister Kedar Kashyap directed officials to strengthen departmental coordination to ensure that government assistance reaches affected people on time. A proposal to increase the compensation rates for human death, permanent disability, livestock loss, house damage, and crop loss was also presented during the meeting.
Discussions were also held on the compensation provided under the provisions of the RBC (Revenue Book Circular) for crop losses caused by natural disasters.
Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, Additional Chief Secretary (Forest) Richa Sharma, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Subodh Kumar Singh, Secretary to the Chief Minister Rahul Bhagat, Secretary of Agriculture Department Shahla Nigar, Secretary of Revenue and Disaster Management Department Avinash Champawat, Secretary of Planning, Economics and Statistics Ankit Anand, Secretary (Forest) Amarnath Prasad, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Sudhir Agrawal, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Prem Kumar, and other senior officials were present at the meeting.
