From Rajasthan’s ‘Kulhadi Band Panchayat’ in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve to Maharashtra’s eco-tourism initiatives by tribals in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, and Andhra Pradesh’s diligent ‘Chenchu’ tribe, as well as the ‘Baagh Mitr Karykram’ in Pilibhit, innovative community-led efforts are at the forefront of tiger conservation in India, which is home to 70 percent of the world’s tiger population.
On the eve of World Tiger Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spotlighted these cutting-edge local initiatives during his ‘Maan Ki Baat,’ emphasizing their vital role in preserving India’s majestic big cats. He praised these community-driven efforts for their transformative impact, highlighting how they not only inspire but are essential for sustaining 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 harmoniously 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.
“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 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 the environment and honoring mothers.