India, June 1 -- Kranti Bai, a 42-year-old resident of Sanosi village in Shahdol district in Madhya Pradesh, had set out with her husband, Umesh Kol (43), on May 19 to collect tendu leaves - their primary source of income during the summer. That evening, Umesh was trampled to death by a wild elephant.

Bai had hoped to receive the Rs.25 lakh compensation that was announced by Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav in November 2024 for victims of human-animal conflict within forest areas. However, she said that she has so far received only Rs.8 lakh - the compensation amount that was in place before the announcement of the increased relief - recalling how Umesh had urged her to flee when he was picked up in an elephant's trunk that even...