From Rajasthan’s ‘Kulhadi Band Panchayat’ in Ranthambore tiger reserve to Maharashtra’s eco-tourism initiatives by tribals in Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and Andhra Pradesh’s diligent ‘Chenchu’ tribe to ‘Baagh Mitr Karykram’ in Pilibhit’, various communities across India are playing crucial role in safeguarding India’s big cats. India has 70 percent of the global tiger population.

On the eve of the World Tiger Day observed on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday in his ‘Maan Ki Baat’ made special mention of these local initiatives, stating that “all of them play a crucial role in protecting the country’s magnificent creatures.”

India is seeing positive impacts from these community-driven efforts, he said, adding that they are not only inspiring but also crucial for the preservation of our rich wildlife heritage.

“Let us applaud and support these exemplary initiatives,” the Prime Minister said.

“In India, Tigers have been an integral part of our culture. We all have grown up listening to stories of incidents related to tigers. In the villages around forests, everyone knows how to live in harmony with the tiger.  In our country, there are many villages where there is no conflict between humans and tigers. But where such a situation arises, unprecedented efforts are being made for the protection of tigers there as well.Modi praised the “Kulhadi Band Panchayat” in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve for its pledge that they will not go to the forest with axes and will not cut trees. Due to this one decision, the forests here are becoming green once again, and a better environment is being created for the tigers, he added.

The Prime Minister also noted the strides made by the Gond and Mana tribes in Maharashtra, whose reduced forest dependency has supported the tiger population’s growth in Tadoba.In Andhra Pradesh,

“You will also be surprised at the efforts of the ‘Chenchu’ tribe living on the Nallamalai hills in Andhra Pradesh.

As Tiger Trackers, they have gathered every bit of information on the movement of wild animals in the forest. Along with that, they also keep monitoring illegal activities in the area.

“Similarly, the ‘Chenchu’ tribe’s role as Tiger Trackers is crucial for monitoring wildlife and preventing illegal activities while the ‘Baagh Mitr Karykram’ in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, exemplifies another successful community initiative by training locals as ‘Tiger Friends’ to mitigate human-tiger conflicts,” Modi said.

These efforts are not isolated. “Many such efforts are underway in different parts of the country.

He also exhorted the countrymen to participate in the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, which recently saw the planting of over 2 lakh saplings in Indore, promoting environment and honoring mothers.