Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs on 13th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary
This report details the legal framework and procedures for the voluntary relocation of Scheduled Tribes (STs) from Tiger Reserve areas as informed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in Lok Sabha. It emphasizes that all relocations must be voluntary, requiring informed consent from Gram Sabhas and adherence to the Forest Rights Act, 2006. Key updates include an enhanced financial rehabilitation package of ₹15 lakh per family and the mandate that no evictions occur until forest rights verification is complete.
Key Points / Main Content
Legal Protections and Mandates
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) is mandated to inquire into complaints regarding the deprivation of rights, including displacement from Tiger Reserves.
Under Section 38 V (5) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 2006, and Section 4(2) of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, relocation from Core/Critical Tiger Habitats must be strictly voluntary.
Section 4(5) of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, stipulates that claimants cannot be evicted from forest land until the recognition and verification of their rights is finalized.
Rehabilitation Package and Financials
The rehabilitation framework includes the settlement of rights, provision of agricultural land, house construction, and access to basic amenities and government welfare schemes.
In 2021, the financial assistance for voluntary relocation was increased from ₹10 lakh to ₹15 lakh per family.
Administrative Oversight and Implementation
Implementation is managed by State Governments and Union Territory Administrations through District Level Committees.
The process is overseen by State Level Monitoring Committees and District Level Implementing Committees, which include representatives from tribal welfare departments to ensure transparency.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) provides the normative standards and guidelines for these processes, which are available in the public domain.
Consent and Transparency
Prior informed consent from both the Gram Sabha and the affected individuals is a mandatory prerequisite for rehabilitation.
Current monitoring reports indicate that no involuntary or coerced relocations have been reported by the mandated oversight committees.
Impact Analysis
Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Forest DwellersImpact
They are protected against arbitrary eviction and are entitled to comprehensive rehabilitation benefits and increased financial compensation if they choose to relocate. Their forest rights must be verified before any movement is required.
Action Required
Participate in Gram Sabha consultations to provide or withhold informed consent and engage in the verification process for forest rights claims.
State Governments and UT AdministrationsImpact
They are the primary executors of the relocation process and must ensure all procedures align with national statutory provisions and guidelines.
Action Required
Constitute District Level Committees, conduct thorough due diligence regarding consent, and ensure no rightful beneficiary is deprived of forest rights during the transition.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)Impact
Acts as the central regulatory body providing the standard operating procedures and receiving representations regarding village relocation.
Action Required
Continue to reiterate the principles of voluntary relocation to Tiger Range States and maintain guidelines in the public domain for transparency.
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)Impact
Serves as the investigative body for complaints regarding the violation of tribal rights and safeguards.
Action Required
Inquire into representations regarding displacement on a case-to-case basis and provide recommendations to relevant authorities.
Key Entities Referenced
Forest Rights Act, 2006: A primary legal framework ensuring that Scheduled Tribes are not evicted until rights verification is complete and requiring informed consent for relocation.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): The regulatory body that issues guidelines for voluntary village relocation from Tiger Reserves and monitors rehabilitation packages.
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: The principal legislation governing tiger habitats and the voluntary relocation of villages from core and critical tiger areas.
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST): A constitutional body mandated to inquire into complaints regarding the deprivation of rights and displacement of Scheduled Tribes.
Gram Sabha: The local village assembly whose informed consent is mandatory before any rehabilitation or voluntary relocation process can be undertaken.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
DISPLACEMENT OF STs IN TIGER RESERVE
AREAS
प्रव तथ: 13 AUG 2026 2:06PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri. Durgadas Uikey informed today in Lok Sabha that the
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) is mandated to inquire into complaints regarding the
deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Scheduled Tribes which include issues related to alienation,
development, atrocities, forest right claims, etc. including displacement of Scheduled Tribes from Tiger
Reserve areas on a case-to-case basis and makes appropriate recommendations to the concerned
authorities, wherever warranted.
A few representations regarding voluntary village relocation from Tiger Reserves have been forwarded to
the NTCA by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST). It has been clarified that the
process of relocation of villages from Core/Critical Tiger Habitats is voluntary as per the provisions of
Section 38 V (5) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 2006, and Section 4(2) of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (Normative Standards for Tourism activities and Project Tiger)
Guidelines, 2012, issued under section 38 O (1) (c) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, are also
available in the public domain which clearly outline the principle of voluntary relocation which has been
reiterated to all State Governments in different forms, from time to time.
The implementation of village relocation is undertaken by the respective State Governments and Union
Territory Administrations in accordance with the prescribed guidelines, and District Level Committees are
constituted by the concerned States and Union Territories to facilitate effective implementation. The
Guidelines issued by this authority provide for a rehabilitation package for voluntary village relocation,
including settlement of rights, agricultural land and house construction etc. The framework also provides
for provision of basic amenities and convergence with other Government schemes to ensure that relocated
families are able to access welfare and development benefits. The financial assistance for voluntary
relocation has been enhanced from ₹10 lakh to ₹15 lakh per family in 2021. Insofar as the Ministry of
Tribal Affairs is concerned, the State Governments and UT Administrations have been exhorted to ensure
that no rightful beneficiary is deprived of their forest rights, including compliance with Section 4(5) of the
Forest Rights Act, 2006, which stipulates that the claimants cannot be evicted or removed from forest land
under their occupation till the recognition and verification procedure is complete.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority has reiterated to all Tiger Range States that village
rehabilitation shall be completely voluntary and that informed consent of the Gram Sabha and the
concerned people shall be obtained before undertaking rehabilitation. The States have been advised to
undertake voluntary village relocation in accordance with the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the Forest
Rights Act, 2006 and the guidelines issued by this authority. The National Tiger Conservation Authority
(Normative Standards for Tourism activities and Project Tiger) Guidelines, 2012, issued under section 38
O (1) (c) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, are also available in the public domain which clearly
outline the principle of voluntary relocation which has been reiterated to all State Governments in
different forms, from time to time. Consultations with the Gram Sabha are conducted by the respectiveState Governments which carry out thorough due diligence which incorporate prior informed consent and
voluntariness as enshrined in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Scheduled Tribes and Other
Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
In order to ensure transparency of process, the said guidelines recommend that the relocation process
could be monitored and implemented by the two committees namely, State Level Monitoring Committee
& District Level Implementing Committee which consists of representatives from tribal welfare
department too. Accordingly, an institutional mechanism for monitoring voluntary village relocation is
already provided under the existing framework, and the concerned State Governments undertake
relocation in accordance with the prescribed statutory provisions and guidelines. It is to be informed that
there are no reports of involuntary or coerced relocation reported to this authority by the State-level
Monitoring Committees and District-level Implementing Committees, which are mandated to oversee the
process.
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