Thiruvananthapuram, March 13 The Kerala government on Friday approved draft guidelines to provide financial assistance to victims of wildlife attacks from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund.
The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
According to a CMO release, under the proposed norms, families of people who die in wildlife attacks will receive Rs 4 lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and Rs 10 lakh from the Forest and Wildlife Department.
In cases where deaths are caused by snakes, bees, or hornets, the victim's family will receive Rs 4 lakh from the SDRF.
The guidelines also set out compensation for those injured in wildlife attacks.
People who suffer 40-60 per cent disability will receive Rs 74,000 from the SDRF and Rs 1.26 lakh from the Forest Department.
Those with more than 60 per cent disability will be given Rs 2.5 lakh.
For serious injuries requiring hospitalisation for more than a week, Rs 16,000 will be provided from the SDRF and Rs 84,000 from the Forest and Wildlife Department, the release said.
Those hospitalised for less than a week will receive Rs 5,400 from the SDRF and Rs 94,600 from the Forest and Wildlife Department.
The cabinet also approved the Kerala State Film Policy aimed at strengthening the state's film industry.
The policy was prepared after discussions with various sections of the film sector, ideas shared during the Cinema Conclave, and feedback collected from the public, the release said.
It includes 92 recommendations and proposals to support and develop the film industry in Kerala, it added.