Alappuzha: Widow of TDB mahout cries for compensation

ALAPPUZHA: Even after six months since the temple elephant Evoor Kannan killed mahout Reni, his widow and two little kids have not received compensation. On April 5, a day after the incident, the government had issued an order for Rs 10 lakh compensation.

But on August 13, the government excluded captive elephants from the definition of the wild animal from the relevant rule. Saranya, his widow, got only Rs 10,000 for his last rites so far. The mother of Anal, 6, and Arish, 3, is now struggling to take her life forward.

"When Devaswom minister came after the incident, I had explained our plight and sought a job. After that, the Travancore Devaswom Board appointed me 
as the peon at its Paravoor office temporarily," she said. "But I need a permanent job."

Reni, 31, of Paravoor, Ernakulam, was stomped to death as he was washing the elephant on Kottakavu temple premises, Mavelikara, where he was to attend a parade at Sreekrishna Swamy temple. 

Shaji Sarma, president, Kerala State Devaswom Pensioners Confederation (KSDPCF) fighting for her cause, said it had requested the minister to consider her case. 

"We will try our level best to get the family compensated soon," he said. Meanwhile, animal rights activists said the government issued the order under pressure from elephant owners. 

"The widow has to be compensated by the TDB as it’s the custodian of the elephant," said V.K. Venkitachalam. However, the forest department said it was 
no longer liable to compensate for a captive elephant attack. "In this case, the TDB is responsible for compensation," an official said.