Kerala Cabinet Greenlights Major Policy Decisions on Wildlife Compensation, Land Use, and Film Industry
The Kerala state cabinet, in a significant meeting held on Friday, approved a series of crucial draft guidelines and policies aimed at addressing public welfare, land management, and cultural development. The decisions encompass enhanced financial assistance for victims of wildlife attacks, streamlined rules for land use, and a forward-looking film policy designed to bolster the state's cinematic landscape.
Enhanced Financial Assistance for Wildlife Attack Victims and Dependants
In a move to provide substantial relief to families affected by wildlife attacks, the cabinet has approved detailed guidelines for granting additional financial assistance. This initiative specifically targets the dependants of individuals who have been killed or injured in encounters with wild animals, ensuring they receive timely and adequate support from state funds.
Compensation Breakdown for Deceased Victims:
- Families of those killed in wildlife attacks will receive a total of Rs 14 lakh. This includes Rs 4 lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and an additional Rs 10 lakh as financial assistance directly from the Forest Department.
- For deaths resulting from snake, bee, or wasp attacks, families will be eligible for Rs 4 lakh from the SDRF.
Support for Injured Victims Based on Disability and Hospitalization:
- Individuals who sustain disabilities between 40-60% due to such attacks will receive Rs 2,00,000 in total, comprising Rs 74,000 from SDRF and Rs 1,26,000 from the Forest Department.
- For those with over 60% disability, the compensation amount is set at Rs 2,50,000.
- Victims with serious injuries requiring hospitalization for more than one week will get Rs 1,00,000, with Rs 16,000 from SDRF and Rs 84,000 from the Forest Department.
- Those hospitalized for less than a week will receive Rs 1,00,000 as well, broken down into Rs 5,400 from SDRF and Rs 94,600 from the Forest Department.
New Land Assignment Rules to Facilitate Diverse Usage
The cabinet also gave its nod to the formation of the Kerala Land Assignment (Permission for Use of Patta Land for Other Purposes) Rules 2026. These rules are designed to simplify and regulate the use of patta land for various purposes, with a focus on promoting development while ensuring fairness in fee structures.
Fee Waivers and Charges:
- Fees will be completely waived for buildings constructed for residential, agricultural, educational, market, place of worship, public need, cultural institution, club, and charitable purposes.
- Commercial or industrial buildings with an area smaller than 5,000 square feet will not incur any fee.
- For buildings between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet, a charge of 1% of the property's fair value will apply.
- Buildings over 10,000 square feet will be charged 2% of the fair value.
- For all other uses not specified, a fee of 5% of the fair value will be levied.
Comprehensive Kerala State Film Policy Approved
In a boost to the cultural sector, the cabinet approved the Kerala State Film Policy. This policy was meticulously prepared after extensive discussions with stakeholders from all sectors of the film industry, incorporating ideas shared at the cinema conclave and valuable feedback gathered from the public.
The approved policy is comprehensive, featuring 92 recommendations and suggestions that cover all aspects of the state's film industry. It aims to foster growth, innovation, and sustainability within the cinematic domain, ensuring Kerala remains a hub for artistic excellence and economic opportunity in filmmaking.
These cabinet decisions reflect the state government's commitment to enhancing public welfare, streamlining administrative processes, and supporting cultural development, marking a proactive step towards addressing key issues faced by citizens and industries alike.
