**Executive Summary**
This report, a response to Unstarred Question No. 2012 to be answered on December 11, 2025, addresses the relocation of forest dwellers from tiger reserves. It outlines the status of village relocations, any associated complaints, financial assistance provided, Gram Sabha consultations, and government advisories, all under the purview of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. It asserts that relocations are voluntary as per Section 38 V (5) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 2006, and Section 4(2) of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Relocation Process and Data:**
* Relocation of villages from Core/Critical Tiger Habitats is voluntary.
* A total of 257 villages have been voluntarily relocated from core/critical tiger habitats from tiger reserves.
* The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) compiles data on village relocations from states/UTs.
* **Complaints and Grievances:**
* No reports of involuntary relocations have been received by State-level Monitoring Committees or District-level Implementing Committees.
* The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has received submissions from CSOs and representations from Gram Sabhas concerning potential issues, including evictions, in tiger reserves such as Simlipal, Rani Durgawati, Nagarhole, Kali, Tadoba Andhari, Achanakmar, and Udanti Sitanadi Forests.
* The Ministry of Tribal Affairs urged state governments to consider the consent of Gram Sabhas and affected families, as mandated by the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006, and Forest Rights Act, 2006.
* **Financial Assistance:**
* Rehabilitation and relocation are implemented by state governments with financial assistance from the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) "Project Tiger."
* Financial assistance provided for voluntary village relocation from core/critical tiger habitats (in Crore):
* 2020-21: 157.93
* 2021-22: 170.58
* 2022-23: 224.20
* 2023-24: 346.10
* 2024-25: 451.73
* **Gram Sabha Consultations:**
* Consultations with Gram Sabhas are conducted by respective state governments.
* States are expected to exercise due diligence, incorporating prior informed consent and voluntariness.
* **Government Directives:**
* The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has reiterated the principle of voluntary relocation to state governments through letters dated 10.01.2025 and 22.10.2025.
* The National Tiger Conservation Authority (Normative Standards for Tourism activities and Project Tiger) Guidelines, 2012, clearly outlines the principle of voluntary relocation.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
*Impact*
Responsible for implementing relocation and rehabilitation programs, ensuring voluntary participation and adherence to the Forest Rights Act. Need to conduct due diligence and consultation with Gram Sabhas.
*Action Required*
Implement relocation programs, perform consultations with the Gram Sabha, ensure adherence to voluntary relocation principles, consider consent of Gram Sabha and affected families, and furnish required information to NTCA.
**National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)**
*Impact*
Oversight and monitoring of relocation processes, coordination with state governments. Administers "Project Tiger."
*Action Required*
Compile data on village relocations, provide financial assistance to state governments, and address grievances related to involuntary relocation.
**Ministry of Tribal Affairs**
*Impact*
Responsible for addressing complaints and grievances related to relocation, ensuring adherence to legal frameworks.
*Action Required*
Receive and address complaints and grievances, urge State Governments to follow guidelines, and reiterate the principle of voluntary relocation.
**Gram Sabhas and Forest Dwellers**
*Impact*
Directly impacted by relocation decisions; their consent and rights are to be protected during the relocation process.
*Action Required*
Participate in consultations and relocation processes, provide informed consent, and report any instances of involuntary or coerced relocation.
**Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change**
*Impact*
Involved in the administration of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) “Project Tiger,” administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
*Action Required*
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has time and again brought concerns to the notice of NTCA as well as the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Key Entities Referenced
Forest Rights Act, 2006: Legislation concerning the rights of forest-dwelling communities, especially related to relocation and resettlement.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): The authority responsible for compiling information and providing financial assistance for village relocation from tiger reserves.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The central ministry responsible for addressing grievances related to involuntary relocation and urging adherence to voluntary relocation principles.
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: Legislation related to protection of wildlife, used in the context of tiger reserves, including relocation of forest dwellers.
Project Tiger: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for rehabilitation and relocation of families from core/critical tiger habitats.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.-2012
TO BE ANSWERED ON- 11/12/2025
RELOCATION OF FOREST DWELLERS FROM TIGER RESERVES
2012. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:
Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of villages relocated from within tiger reserves in the last ten years,
State/UT-wise;
(b) the number of such relocations conducted voluntarily under the provisions of the Forest
Rights Act (FRA), 2006;
(c) the details of complaints or reports, if any, of involuntary or coerced relocation of Scheduled
Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers from protected areas during the past five years;
(d) the details of funds allocated and disbursed for the rehabilitation and compensation to
families relocated from tiger reserves during the last five financial years, State-wise;
(e) the details of the consultations held with Gram Sabhas before village relocation proposals
were approved under the FRA framework during the last five years; and
(f) whether any advisories or circulars have been issued to State Governments, reiterating the
principle of voluntary relocation and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)
(a) & (b): 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 information on the total number of villages relocated
from within tiger reserves is compiled by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
based on inputs furnished by the respective States/UTs. As reported by NTCA, a total of 257
villages have been voluntarily relocated from core/critical tiger habitats from tiger reserves, as
per provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 read with the Scheduled Tribes and Other
Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.(c): NTCA has informed that there are no reports of involuntary or coerced relocation have
been reported by the State-level Monitoring Committees and District-level Implementing
Committees, which are mandated to oversee the process. However, Ministry of Tribal Affairs
has received collective submissions from various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and
several representations from various Gram Sabhas situated within Tiger Reserves across
different States, including Simlipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha; Rani Durgawati in Tiger Reserves
in Madhya Pradesh; Nagarhole and Kali Tiger Reserves in Karnataka; Tadoba Andhari Tiger
Reserve in Maharashtra; and Achanakmar and Udanti Sitanadi Forests in Chhattisgarh, also
highlighted the concerns inside Tiger Reserves, including evictions. Post the receipt of the
grievances, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has urged the State Governments to take into account
the consent of Gram Sabha as well as individual affected families along with settlement of
rights as mandated under the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006, and Forest Rights
Act, 2006. Further, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has time and again brought these concerns to
the notice of NTCA as well as the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
(d) & (e): Rehabilitation and relocation of families from core/critical tiger habitats is
implemented by the concerned State Governments with financial assistance from the Centrally
Sponsored Scheme (CSS) “Project Tiger,” administered by the National Tiger Conservation
Authority (NTCA) and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. However, state-
wise details of the payment of compensation to families relocated from tiger reserves are not
collected. In so far as Tiger Reserves are concerned, as reported by NTCA the financial
assistance provided for voluntary village relocation from core/critical tiger habitats are as
follows:
Year Amount (In Cr.)
2020-21 157.93
2021-22 170.58
2022-23 224.20
2023-24 346.10
2024-25 451.73
Further as reported by the NTCA that the consultations with the Gram Sabha are conducted by
the respective State 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.
(f) MoTA, through its letters dated 10.01.2025, 22.10.2025, and in response to the grievances,
has reiterated the principle of voluntary relocation as per the provisions of FRA, 2006, and the
Wildlife Protection Act to the State Governments. Further, the National Tiger ConservationAuthority (Normative Standards for Tourism activities and Project Tiger) Guidelines, 2012,
issued under section 38 O (1) (c) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, is also available in the
public domain, clearly outline the principle of voluntary relocation which has been reiterated
to all State Governments in different forms, from time to time.
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