Thiruvananthapuram, March 24 The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has directed authorities to expedite the issuance of a legal heirship certificate to enable the disbursement of the remaining compensation to the family of a mahout who was killed in an elephant attack in Kottoor recently.
KSHRC Chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas, on Tuesday, issued the directive to the District Collector and the Neyyattinkara Tahsildar, stating that the remaining Rs 13 lakh out of the sanctioned Rs 18.5 lakh compensation can only be released if the certificate is produced.
The order was passed following a case registered by the Commission based on media reports in this regard.
V Vishnu (27), a daily wage mahout at the Kottoor Elephant Rehabilitation Centre since 2018, was killed on February 5 while bathing elephants at the Neyyar reservoir.
According to an official report, an immediate assistance of Rs 50,000 has already been provided to the family.
An amount of Rs three lakh will be given from the elephant’s insurance, and Rs five lakh from the insurance coverage for temporary forest department staff, according to a KSHRC statement.
In addition, Rs 10 lakh sanctioned for victims of wildlife attacks will also be granted to Vishnu’s family.
Of this, Rs 5 lakh is being disbursed to his father, P Bijukumar, while the remaining Rs 5 lakh will be released upon submission of the heirship certificate and other legal documents, it said.
The commission had, on February 7, directed the Forest Conservator of Agasthyavanam Biological Park to take urgent steps to ensure compensation for the victim’s family.
In view of the tragic incident, officials have also been instructed to conduct a safety audit at the rehabilitation centre and address any lapses.
The commission has asked the District Collector and Tahsildar to submit an action taken report within one month, the statement added.