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NGO wants goverment to compensate kin of snakebite victims

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The government has been taking steps to prevent killing of snakes and their use during Nag Panchami, but it does not provide any compensation to the family of the person losing his/her life due to snakebite.

There are around 1,000 deaths in the state because of snakebite every year.

There is, however, compensation for death due to wild animal attack. Forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar recently announced a compensation of Rs8 lakh to the family of the person losing his/her life in an attack by a wild animal.

The Vidarbha Sarpa Mitra Mandal, which works for environment and wildlife, has approached the state government for presenting the case of snakebite victims. The Mandal has handed over its memorandum of demands to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, governor C Vidyasagar Rao and Mungantiwar.

Its founder Gajendra Surkar told dna that more than 1,000 people in Maharashtra, a majority of whom are farmers and farm labourers, die due to snakebite every year. He said taking into account the urgent treatment a person bitten by snake needs, it is imperative that the state make provision for the medical expenses and also provides compensation to the victim's kin if s/he doesn't survive.

Making a case for farmers and labourers, Surkar said if they die because of snakebite, the family loses its breadwinner. "The newly appointed forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar hails from Chandrapur, which is a forest area, he is aware of the problems faced by the poor living in undeveloped areas as his constituency also has such areas. Hence, he should make some provision..." Surkar added.

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