Steps taken by Government to minimize the human-animal conflict

Pashu Sandesh, 01 Sep 2023

The important steps taken by the Government to minimize the human-animal conflict in the country are as follows:

1. The Ministry released species-specific guidelines on 21.03.2023  for mitigation of Human –Elephant, -Gaur, -Leopard, -Snake, -Crocodile, -Rhesus Macaque, -Wild Pig, -Bear, -Blue Bull and –Blackbuck Conflict as well as Guidelines for cross-cutting issues such as cooperation between the forest and media sector in India; occupational health and safety in the context of human–wildlife conflict mitigation;  crowd management in human-wildlife conflict-related situations and addressing health emergencies and potential health risks arising out of human-wildlife conflict situations.
2. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued guidelines to States/UTs on 3rd June 2022 for preventing and managing human-wildlife conflict including crop damage caused by wild animals.
3. An advisory on dealing with human-wildlife conflict was issued by the Ministry to all States/UTs in February 2021. The advisory recommends coordinated interdepartmental action, identification of conflict hot spots, adherence to Standard Operating Procedures, establishment of rapid response teams, formation of State and district-level committees to review the quantum of ex-gratia relief, and prompt payment of relief to affected persons.
4. Payment of ex-gratia amount to victims of wild animal attacks is provided to reduce human-wildlife conflict. The Ministry on 9^th February 2018 enhanced the ex-gratia payment on death from Rs. 2.00 Lakh per person to Rs. 5.00 Lakh per person with an increase in the amount for ex-gratia in case of injury to humans as well.
5. The Ministry has issued guidelines for the development of linear infrastructure in Wildlife and its adjacent areas to mitigate human–wildlife conflict.
6. The Central Government provides financial assistance to State Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’, ‘Project Tiger’ and ‘Project Elephant’ for the management of wildlife and human-wildlife conflict in and around protected areas and conducting awareness campaigns to sensitize and advise the general public.

• vii. The Ministry provides support to State Governments to organize awareness generation, training and capacity-building programmes on human-wildlife conflict.

8. Advanced technology like radio collaring and E-surveillance are also used in human-wildlife conflict mitigation.

Management of wildlife is the primary responsibility of the respective State/Union Territory Governments. Ministry also provides financial assistance to  States/UTs under Centrally Sponsored Schemes ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’ based on Annual Plans of Operation submitted by State/UT Governments for activities like construction/erecting of physical barriers, such as barbed wire fences, solar-powered electric fence, bio-fencing using cactus, boundary wall etc.