Assam: Govt Plans Rs 8 Lakh Compensation for Families of Elephant Attack Victims

The Assam government is planning to provide Rs 8 lakh in compensation to the families of people killed in wild elephant attacks, Finance Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said on Sunday. The proposed measure is part of the state government's efforts to address human-elephant conflict and provide financial support to families affected by elephant attacks. As part of its efforts to reduce such conflicts, the government also plans to undertake the plantation of elephant-friendly trees across 50 hectares of land through the Ecological Task Force. In another initiative, the government has decided to deploy 140 Gaj Mitras in the Tamulpur forest area to help manage human-elephant interactions and reduce the risk of conflict. The proposed initiatives are aimed at addressing the challenges arising from human-elephant interactions while strengthening support for communities living in affected areas. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah on November 8 held separate meetings with the Special Standing Finance Committees (SSFCs) of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, Public Works (Building) Department and Tribal Affairs Department at Dispur in Guwahati. Senior officials from the Finance Department and the respective departments attended the meetings. Discussions focused on the future priorities of the three departments and the financial approvals required for their ongoing projects.