Compensation for street dog bite: The Irinjalakuda native gets Rs 18 lakh

THRIPUNITHURA: Many are unaware that the government and local bodies are liable to pay compensation after stray dog bite. There is also a Justice Sirijagan Committee to look into the matter. It is estimated that more than one lakh people are attacked by stray dogs in the state every year. The vast majority of these are poor.

Compensation should be applied for on white paper. The bill for medical and vehicle repair expenses should be included. The committee will seek an explanation from the local body where the incident took place. The compensation will be fixed and notified to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court will issue directions to the local bodies through the state governments.

Justice Sirijagan Committee

A three-member committee to provide compensation to two-wheeler passengers, including those injured in street dog attacks. It came into force in September 2016 as per the Supreme Court judgment. The other members are the Director of Health and the Legal Secretary. Pet dogs will not be considered by this committee.

At the same time, the committee is in crisis without government assistance. Salaries are suspended. There is no funding even for the cost of sending the notice. It has been three years since I sat in other districts.

2,582 cases

Cases from 2016 to June 2021 were solved. Rs 5000 to 18 lakhs were awarded as compensation.

2016-391

2017-560

2018-705

2019-564

2020-705

2021-307

(650 cases pending before Supreme Court)

Address-

Justice Sirijagan Committee,

Corporation Building,

Paramara Road, North

Ernakulam

Biju's second birth

It has been five years since Biju's hellish life at Parakkal house in Irinjalakuda Kalletumkara. The villain was a dog who jumped in front of his bike one night in June 2016. He suffered a spinal cord injury. Biju, a watch repair worker, was treated with the help of locals. In 2017, the Justice Sirijagan Committee awarded compensation of Rs 18 lakh.

Now he can walk inside the house with a stick. The surgery at Amrita Hospital cost around Rs 15 lakh. He needs Rs 25,000 per month for medicines. Biju has five children. Rajini is his wife. Aditya and Anushree are children.