Bhubaneswar: Every year, hundreds of people in Odisha lose their lives due to snakebites. The previous government, led by Naveen Patnaik, had classified snakebite-related deaths as a disaster category and provided a compensation amount of ₹4 lakh to the families of the deceased. However, after the change in government, families of those who die from snakebites are no longer receiving this compensation.
A child passed away on the way to the hospital because the oxygen supply in the ambulance ran out. After the post-mortem, the body was handed over to the parents on the 24th, and the post-mortem report was given on the 31st. Despite submitting various documents, financially weak parents are still struggling to receive compensation.
Many families who lost their loved ones due to snakebites have been deprived of financial assistance. This has raised concerns about whether the new government has stopped this aid altogether.
On August 23, 2024, in Pathura, Khallikote, Ganjam district, a five-year-old boy named Prabin, son of Lakshmikant Behera, was bitten on the head by a cobra. He was rushed to the Balugaon Community Health Center. However, due to the unavailability of anti-venom injections, the doctors referred him to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar via ambulance.
Even after five months of his death, his family has not received any government assistance. Lakshmikant is not the only one; in the last eight months, many families across Odisha who lost their members due to snakebites have not received any compensation.
Compensation for Snakebite Deaths Stopped?
It remains unclear whether the government has officially stopped providing assistance or imposed restrictions on it. The previous government had urged the central government to include snakebite deaths in the national disaster category. Since the central government did not accept the demand, the Odisha