Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
In a move that is aimed at reducing the paperwork needed for the family members to claim compensation in the event of a snakebite related death of the deceased, the Uttar Pradesh government stated on July 8 that viscera report is not mandatory to avail Rs 400,000.
In a letter that sent out to all district magistrates in the state, Manoj Kumar Singh, additional chief secretary, Uttar Pradesh, wrote: “As per the advice of the state medical legal cell, in the cases of deaths due to snakebite, the viscera report is of no relevance. From now on, just a postmortem report and a panchayatnama, were proof enough, to claim the money.”
The additional chief secretary has also directed that within seven days of the submission of the postmortem report, the compensation would have to be paid out to the victim’s family.
In 2018, according to a survey by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India recorded 8,962 deaths due to snake bite. Of these 5,574 were men and 3,388 were women.
In Uttar Pradesh, 359 people lost their lives to snake bite. The very same year (2018), the state government included death due to snakebite in the list of state calamities and announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to family members of the victim. They were earlier required to submit a viscera report before they could claim the money. But because of the complicated process of obtaining and submitting the viscera report, the compensations remained unclaimed.
Most number of snakebite cases in a year are from India
A report titled A Literature Analysis and Modelling Based on Regional Estimates of Envenoming and Deaths, published by the Public Library of Science (PLOS), a peer reviewed weekly medical journal, says that the maximum number of cases of snakebite is from India, and that on an average, every year approximately 81,000 cases are registered. The second highest number of snakebites are reported from Sri Lanka at 33,000 cases a year.
“In Uttar Pradesh, the lowlands of Lakhimpur and Pilibhit districts and in the dry areas of Agra-Etawah, have seen the most number of snakebite cases,” Shailendra Singh, Lucknow-based scientist from Turtle Survival Alliance that works on species that are at a high risk of extinction, told Gaon Connection.
Know your snakes
“All snakes are not poisonous. The big four that are extremely venomous are, the Indian cobra, the common krait, the Russel’s viper and the saw-scaled viper,” Singh said.
The water snakes and rat snakes found in fields are not poisonous, he added.
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“Most of the snakebite deaths occur because of lack of awareness, and delay in getting the anti-venom injection,” Singh said. Sometimes people resort to mumbo jumbo and witchcraft to treat the patient, he added.
“While the government’s move to facilitate payment of compensation is noteworthy, there needs to be a concerted effort to spread awareness about snakes and snake bites too,” Singh pointed out. Anti-venom injections should be made available at the community and Primary Health Centres. Even the doctors should be more aware, Singh said.
“Most of the anti-venom injections being used in Uttar Pradesh are of foreign origin. If the antivenom is made from the venom of indigenous snakes, it will be more effective,” Singh explained.
Live and let live
“We must learn to coexist with snakes and only those who know nothing about snakes fear them,” Manjit Kaur Bal, a social worker from Chattisgarh told Gaon Connection.
In the past 18 years, Bal has saved more than 300 snakes. Along with a team of 20 others, she has spread awareness about snakes amongst thousands of people.
“When you encounter a snake, be calm. You will be surprised to know that eighty per cent of snakes are non poisonous,” Bal said.
It is usually fear that makes people kill snakes, she said. Also, ensuring the surroundings are clean of garbage will keep the snakes away, she advised.
Read the story in Hindi
