An agonizing wait for relief

For the farmers of Syangja district, who lost crops and livestock in wild animal attacks almost two years ago, relief is still beyond reach.

The afflicted farmers aired their woes at a training program organized under the aegis of the Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN) to press for payment of relief funds for the harm caused in such attacks. 

Dilmaya Poudel from Putalibazar municipality-5 says she is yet to receive relief funds even after almost two years since the attack. After a leopard attacked and killed two goats during nighttime, Poudel asked for relief funds from the division office, to no avail. Like her, there are many victims that are yet to receive their relief funds. 

Per Amar Bahadur Parajuli, forest officer in the division office, the funds have been put on hold for 20 months. Previously, after validating attacks from wild animals, relief used to be distributed within a month. According to Parajuli, the lack of clear deadlines is behind the delays in the payment of funds. 

Two years ago, it was announced that the Forest Directorate will henceforth provide relief funds coming from the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). Per that announcement, the onus is on both ACAP and the directorate to deliver the funds. But this decision was not included in the budget, giving rise to some uncertainty that has caused delays in the payment of relief funds. 

“We have submitted a recommendation to the directorate and received information that the relief funds will be deposited in the farmers’ bank accounts,” Parajuli said, adding that both the provinces and local governments have allocated budgets for the topic.

Syangja has sent a recommendation for a total of Rs 1.787m in relief funds for the district. Out of 325 incidents reported from the district, one has harmed human life, 338 have caused harm to animals, 270 to birds, including Kalij, and caused loss of 20 quintals of corn. 

According to Navaraj Baral, Head of Division Forest Office, Syangja, the reporting period saw rescue/retrieval of 17 animals. The rescued animals include one leopard cub (rescued alive), three deer (rescued alive), seven dead leopards, and three dead deer.

Deputy Chief of Syangja District Coordination Committee Syangja, Khadga Raj Subedi, demanded immediate relief funds to the victims. Crops and livestock requiring farmers’ hard work, dedication and investments get destroyed/killed in seconds in wild animal attacks, therefore, there should be no delay in providing relief funds, he said. 

Kalidas Subedi, Gandaki province Chairperson of FECOFUN, central member Dob Bahadur Karki and Forest Officer Rookmangud Subedi informed about the directorate at the training program while FECOFUN Syangja Chair Tara Sharma informed about USAID Biodiversity’s contribution. Sharma said forest users should be made aware of the directorate, stressing the need to use state-provided facilities effectively. 

As part of the relief distribution plan being executed with USAID Biodiversity’s financial contribution, information about the behavior of wild animals, community’s responses and the directorate has been provided to members of FECOFUN. 

FECOFUN officials, members and representatives took part in the program held to promote rapid forest management, community rights, inclusivity, good governance and economic development. In case of harm caused to animals due to wild attacks, police recognition, forest management committee’s recommendation, ward office’s recommendation, photos of the incident, and veterinary hospital as well as agriculture office report should be presented. The government has brought the new wild animal attack relief fund directory 2023 in execution. Previously, relief used to be handed out for harm caused by leopards, now it covers losses caused by monkeys too.