**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs addresses a Lok Sabha query regarding the relocation of forest dwellers from core/critical tiger habitats. The document clarifies that relocation is voluntary, as per the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 2006, and the Forest Rights Act, 2006. The ministry reiterates the need for informed consent and adherence to established legal frameworks.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Relocation Policy:**
* Relocation of villages from core/critical tiger habitats is voluntary.
* This policy is based on Section 38 V (5) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 2006, and Section 4(2) of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
* NTCA compiles relocation data based on inputs from States/UTs. A total of 257 villages have been voluntarily relocated.
* **Oversight and Grievances:**
* State-level Monitoring Committees and District-level Implementing Committees oversee the process.
* The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has received submissions and concerns from CSOs and Gram Sabhas regarding evictions and other issues.
* The Ministry has urged State Governments to consider the consent of Gram Sabhas and individual affected families and ensure settlement of rights.
* **Financial Assistance:**
* Rehabilitation and relocation are implemented by State Governments with financial assistance from the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) "Project Tiger".
* The CSS is administered by NTCA and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
* **Financial Assistance Details**
* 2020-21: 157.93 Cr.
* 2021-22: 170.58 Cr.
* 2022-23: 224.20 Cr.
* 2023-24: 346.10 Cr.
* 2024-25: 451.73 Cr.
* **Consultation and Due Diligence:**
* Consultations with Gram Sabha are conducted by State Governments with due diligence, incorporating informed consent and voluntariness.
* **Ministry's Stance:**
* The Ministry of Tribal Affairs reiterates the principle of voluntary relocation to State Governments through letters, in response to grievances, and through NTCA guidelines.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing the relocation and rehabilitation of families from tiger reserves.
* **Action Required:** Ensure voluntary relocation, obtain informed consent from Gram Sabhas and affected families, and implement the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) "Project Tiger".
**National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)**
* **Impact:** Oversees the relocation process, compiles data, and provides financial assistance.
* **Action Required:** Administer the "Project Tiger" scheme, collect data from States/UTs on the number of villages relocated, and ensure compliance with the Wild Life (Protection) Act and the Forest Rights Act.
**Forest Dwellers/Villages within Tiger Reserves**
* **Impact:** Directly affected by the relocation process.
* **Action Required:** Exercise their right to voluntary relocation, provide informed consent, and participate in consultations with State Governments and Gram Sabhas.
**Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change**
* **Impact:** Jointly administers "Project Tiger" with the NTCA and is informed of concerns regarding relocations.
* **Action Required:** Ensure financial assistance is appropriately allocated and used for voluntary village relocation.
Key Entities Referenced
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): Authority responsible for compiling information on village relocation from tiger reserves and administering the Project Tiger scheme.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The ministry that oversees concerns raised about relocation from tiger reserves, receives submissions from CSOs and Gram Sabhas, and addresses grievances with State Governments and NTCA.
Forest Rights Act, 2006: Act related to the rights of scheduled tribes and other forest dwellers, frequently referenced in the context of voluntary relocation.
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: Law related to wildlife protection, specifically referencing sections related to tiger habitats and the conditions of voluntary relocation of villages from tiger reserves
Project Tiger: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) administered by NTCA for rehabilitation and relocation of families from core/critical tiger habitats.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
RELOCATION OF FOREST DWELLERS FROM
TIGER RESERVES
प्रव तथ: 11 DEC 2025 4:44PM by PIB Delhi
Replying to an un-starred question today in Lok Sabha the Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri
Durgadas Uikey informed 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 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;
TadobaAndhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra; and Achanakmar and UdantiSitanadi 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.)
2020-21 157.932021-22 170.58
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 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, 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.
RN/
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2202363) आगंतुक पटल : 404
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