A total of 249 families have been relocated from six villages in the Tiger Reserves of Chhattisgarh, the Central Government has informed.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) circular dated March 28, 2017 restricting conffering of rights under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA) has been superseded by NTCA circular dated March 12, 2018 after consulting the Ministry of Tribal Affairs restoring FRA implementation in tiger habitats, it informed.
The process of village relocation from core/ critical tiger habitat of tiger reserve is an entirely voluntary process as per Section 38V (5) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 read with section 4 (2) of FRA. In this context, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribe (NCST) has recommended for utilization of Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA) funds for voluntary relocation of Scheduled Tribes from Critical Wildlife Areas and Critical Tiger Habitats and forenhanced and time bound compensation package to tribals on their voluntary relocation. There has not been any forced relocation or displacement of tribals from tiger reserves, it informed.
Further an elaborate process to ensure harmony between tiger conservation and tribals is already outlined in Section 38 V (5) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Section 13 of FRA provides for harmonious implementation of FRA with other laws already in force. These provisions of laws are intended to protect forest rights of tribal communities while ensuring conservation of Wildlife including tigers, which Government is implementing.