Guwahati: The Assam government has reduced the deadline for disbursing compensation to the next of kin of people killed in human-elephant conflict (HEC) from 72 hours to 48 hours, Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah announced on Tuesday.

The decision was announced at a meeting with senior Forest Department officials and Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) at Aranya Bhawan in Guwahati. The minister also announced plans to expand the state’s Gajamitra teams from the existing 81 to at least 150 to strengthen efforts to prevent human-elephant conflict.

Under the revised timeline, families of people killed in elephant attacks will receive Rs 6 lakh in compensation within two days. Compensation of Rs 8,000 per bigha for crop damage will be disbursed within three to four days, Mallabaruah said.

District Commissioners have been authorised to release compensation for losses arising from human-elephant conflict following joint assessments by the district administration and the Forest Department.

The government had announced during the Assam Legislative Assembly session in July that the next of kin of people killed in elephant attacks would receive Rs 6 lakh as ex gratia within 72 hours of the victim’s death. The latest decision reduces the waiting period by 24 hours.

Alongside the revised compensation timeline, the government plans to increase the number of Gajamitra teams to at least 150, with scope for further expansion based on local requirements.

Each team will consist of 10 local residents and three Forest Department personnel. The 13-member units will focus exclusively on preventing human-elephant conflict, particularly during the November-to-March period, which the minister identified as a vulnerable period.

The three departmental personnel assigned to each team will have no other routine responsibilities and will work alongside local volunteers. Each Gajmitra will receive a monthly payment of Rs 1,000, Mallabaruah said.

The expanded teams are expected to become operational from November 7 or 8 after completing the required training and awareness programmes.

The government will also constitute range-level committees headed by Range Officers. Each committee will include five Forest Department personnel and 10 local residents, who will assess local requirements and coordinate preventive measures.

Mallabaruah said dedicated central accounts had been established in all 35 districts to facilitate the timely release of compensation.