NHRC Seeks Report on Rise in Snakebite Deaths in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to Odisha Chief Secretary seeking detailed report regarding the steps being taken by the government to reduce snakebite deaths in the State, reported The Statesman.

The NHRC sent this notice following a petition filed by human rights lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy. In the petition, the activist had sought NHRC’s intervention on the lack of government measures to check the rising cases of snakebite deaths.

The petitioner noted a series of incidents of snakebite reported in hospitals, police stations, schools, Anganwadi centres, residential homes in Odisha as well as State Government’s failure to ensure safety and security at public places including the government offices.

In Last eight years, more than 7,000 persons have died due to snakebites in Odisha, noted the petition.

The NHRC sought replies from the concerned authorities regarding the matter within eight weeks. The NHRC also sought replies on the awareness programmes and availability of the requisite quantity of anti-venom serum in the Public Health Centres and Community Health Centres, whether monetary relief is being provided in a time bound manner to the victims/ next of kin of snakebite victims.

Odisha was the first State in the country to declare snakebite death as a State-specific disaster. From April 1, 2015, snakebites have been declared as a ‘State Specific Disaster’ by Odisha government. As per reports, around 900 people die of snakebites every year in Odisha.