Bhubaneswar: Odisha has urged the Centre to increase compensation for deaths caused by natural disasters, including snakebites, drowning, and lightning strikes, stating that the current amounts are insufficient, Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Wednesday.
“Certain natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and cyclones fall under the central list, while crop losses due to heavy rainfall are included in the state’s disaster list. Deaths due to drowning, snakebites, and lightning strikes are covered under the central list, but the compensation is uniform across all states and the state government does not have the authority to revise it,” Pujari told reporters.
The Minister said Odisha had earlier written to the Centre recommending an increase in compensation.
Recently, the Supreme Court asked the central government to talk to states about increasing payments for deaths from snakebites, drowning, and lightning.
Currently, compensation for snakebite deaths is Rs 4 lakh. The Supreme Court has suggested raising it to Rs 10 lakh. Once approved, the new amount will apply across India.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court also addressed a shortage of snakebite treatments, including anti-venom, and asked the Centre to make sure all medical centers, including primary health centers, have these treatments.
