The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to grant Rs.15 lakh to the family of veterinarian C. Gopakumar who was killed while trying to tranquilise a domesticated elephant.
As there is no provision for providing compensation for deaths caused by domesticated elephants, Dr. Gopakumar’s case will be treated as a special case and Rs.10 lakh sanctioned from the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund and Rs.5 lakh from the Forest Department. The Chief Minister told the media after the Cabinet meeting that a dependent of the doctor would be given employment in the government.
The rules of the dying in harness scheme would be waived to provide immediate appointment on application to a post commensurate with the qualification of the applicant.