Fourteen local bodies in the State will have to pay a total compensation amount of ₹33.38 lakh to 19 stray dog bite victims, as per the recommendations of the Sirijagan Committee appointed by the Supreme Court (SC) to study the stray-dog menace and to recommend compensation for victims of dog bites.
The Thiruvananthapuram city Corporation, the only one among the Municipal Corporations in the Sate asked to pay the compensation, will have to shell out ₹1.54 lakh as compensation for four victims.
The recommendations were part of the third report submitted by the Sirijagan Committee to the Supreme Court. The Chief Secretary had earlier this month convened a meeting to sort out the issues related to the SC judgement, in which it was decided to implement the directions of the court within the time limit.
The secretaries of the local bodies have been asked to pay the compensation to the claimants from their own fund or plan fund, before May 31.
Beneficiaries
In Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, M. Shaiju has been awarded a compensation of ₹87,393, Niranjan Samuel Boban a compensation of ₹25,750, M. Veerakumar ₹20,250 and S. Dileepkumar, an amount of ₹20,500.
“If the amount is sanctioned from the plan fund, there will be much delay in getting it cleared through the Corporation council and then the District Planning Committee. From the own fund, the amount can be released with the clearance of the Corporation council,” says city Corporation Secretary L.S. Deepa.
The Sirijagan Committee had last year conducted sittings in all district headquarters to collect evidence for assessing the nature of bites and quantum of compensation.
Difficult task
No claims for attacks by domestic dogs were allowed while those bitten by stray dogs could claim compensation, however the lack of separate records for domestic and stray dog bites in hospitals made this task difficult. The quantum of compensation was decided after considering factors such as the intensity and the nature of wound, the pain and suffering endured by the victim, and the hospital and allied expenses incurred and loss of livelihood.
