Nagpur: With 505 snake bite cases reported by the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College & Hospital (IGGMCH) in the last 2.5 years, on an average 26 people suffer from injuries in a month.The number of cases may be even more if details from GMCH are received, says snake friend (sarpa mitra) Swapnil Bodhane, who had sought information under the RTI Act from both the government hospitals. While IGGMCH responded, GMCH is yet to reply.Of the 505 snake bite cases, 493 patients recovered while 12 died during treatment. People from rural areas are worst sufferers as of the total cases, 284 were recorded from rural areas.Snakes have legal protection under Schedule I to IV under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, but if people die of snake bites, they don’t get compensation like other wild animals.“The issue of compensation to snake bite victims has always been debated with ‘sarpa mitras’, who risk their lives to rescue snakes from houses and at times fall victim to bites, questioning the forest department’s intention not to include venomous snakes in the list of animals in the GR that entitle compensation to victims in case of fatal attacks and injuries,” says Bodhane.However, Bodhane adds it may be perhaps for the first time that RTI has revealed snake bite victims get compensation under Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. However, release of such aid is being delayed for long due to apathy of revenue department officials.Bodhane’s immediate provocation of filing RTI was death of 19-year-old Akshay Parate from Durga Nagar in Pardi area on the night of August 29, last. Akshay was bitten by a venomous branded krait in sleep but nearby doctor failed to detect the injury and provided first aid and sent him home.“It was only after family members saw a snake near the bed, they learnt that Akshay was bitten, but by the time family members rushed him to IGGMCH, his condition deteriorated and he died,” recalls Bodhane.Poor Parates pursued the matter with collectorate with the help of King Cobra Organization Youth Force and submitted all the relevant papers required to claim compensation in such cases. However, though the case has been approved, nearly a year after the incident, the aggrieved family has not received compensation cheque.The RTI also exposes poor plight of primary health centres (PHCs) where anti-snake venom vials are not available and hence patients are shifted to government hospitals. “The delay in getting treatment causes death of victims,” says Bodhane.However, to a query, IGGMCH did not supply number of anti-snake vials available with it but claimed that anti-snake venom was available. Bodhane says many times the serum is not available at government hospitals too and patients are asked to purchase it from outside. “One venom vial costs Rs950 in the market. It may take several vials depending on the spread of poison in the body. At times patients die due to lack of medicine as it is beyond the reach of poor patients,” said Bodhane.

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