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Victims of elephant menace demand compensation

BERHAMPUR: Tribal and dalit victims of elephant menace in Daringbadi and K.Nuagaon blocks of Kandhamal district have threatened to take up the agitation if they were not compensated properly.

The affected tribal families have been united by the tribal organization Lok Sangram Manch (LSM). They have threatened to start agitation in the two blocks if the government did not take up measures to drive back the marauding elephants to their original habitat within one month. They also demanded payment of proper compensation to victims of elephant menace.

For the past four months remote villages inhabited by tribal and dalit families in remote areas of Daringbadi and K.Nuagaon blocks are facing regular attacks of wild elephants. According to leader of LSM of the area, Kusanath Pradhan, the elephants have destroyed more than 400 houses in more than 30 villages. People living in remote pockets of these two blocks have either left their houses to stay in makeshift shelters or they are spending sleepless nights in panic of pachyderms.

These elephants have till date killed two women. One of them was killed at Nahudisara of Kirkuti panchayat of Daringbadi block on Thursday night. Another was trampled to death at Gadadi village.

It was alleged that the family members of the victim are yet to get the Rs. 10,000 compensation promised by the administration.

According to forest officials these elephants were part of an elephant that had strayed into Kandhamal district from Lakhari elephant sanctuary. But the destructive power of these stray elephants has increased as it has now got divided into three new herds.

The LSM activists demand the State government to immediately initiate process so that the persons whose houses were damaged by the wild elephants could get new houses under the ‘Mo Kudia’ programme of the State government.

The tribal activists alleged that although promises were being made much delay was being made in providing the compensatory payments. They also demanded compensation for the stored grain that was eaten up by the elephants.

Adviser of the LSM, B.C. Sarangi said the relief code for the victims of wild animals had to be refurbished so that the poor tribals and dalits living in remote areas for early payment relief and compensations.

The victims of elephant menace, who have taken shelter at cyclone shelters at Simanbadi, Judabadi and Kirkuti alleged that they had only received rice as relief measure.

Mr Pradhan said the victims had not received kerosene and dal which also needed to cook up a manageable meal.

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