What’s the plan to relocate forest tribes?

Why in News?

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has released a new policy framework titled “Reconciling Conservation and Community Rights: A Policy Framework for Relocation and Co-existence in India’s Tiger Reserves” (October 2024).
• It was issued after the NTCA directive (June 2024) urged states to prioritise relocation from tiger reserves — triggering protests by Gram Sabhas and representations to NCST.
• Aims to address conflict between wildlife conservation and tribal rights, especially under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.

Relevance:

GS 2 – Governance, Welfare Schemes, Rights Issues
• Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 and Scheduled Tribes’ rights
• Balancing conservation with human livelihood security
• Participatory governance and Gram Sabha empowerment
• Displacement, rehabilitation, and social justice in policy
• Constitutional provisions – Article 46, Fifth Schedule

GS 3 – Environment & Sustainable Development
• People-centric conservation vs. fortress conservation
• Biodiversity protection and eco-sensitive zones
• Human–wildlife conflict management and sustainable livelihoods

Background and Context

• Tiger Reserves: Established under Project Tiger (1973); governed by the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972.
• FRA, 2006: Recognises rights of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes (FDSTs) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs) to land and forest resources.
• Conflict: WPA promotes exclusionary conservation; FRA promotes community rights → policy vacuum on co-existence.
• NTCA data (June 2023):
  • 591 villages and 64,801 families lived within tiger reserve core areas.
  • Since Jan 2022: 5,166 families from 56 villages relocated in 7 States (MP, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, WB, Rajasthan).

The Issue

• Tribes allege forced or induced relocation:
  • Denial of basic services (schools, health centres, water, electricity) to push voluntary exit.
  • Example: Jenu Kuruba community in Nagarhole NP (Karnataka) — case in HC claiming violation of FRA rights.
• Current Compensation: ₹15 lakh/family (NTCA guidelines) for voluntary relocation.
• Implementation Gap: Rights not settled under FRA before eviction; consent procedures weak or symbolic.

Key Features of the New Policy Framework

Core Objective

• Ensure “voluntary, rights-compliant, and scientifically justified relocation” — not administrative compulsion.
• Promote co-existence model where possible, rather than eviction.

Procedural Safeguards

• Rights Settlement First: FRA rights must be recognised before any relocation.
• Consent Mechanism:
  • Consent required before an area is notified as a tiger reserve.
  • Must be obtained at Gram Sabha and household level; verifiable through independent audit.
• Monitoring & Oversight:
  • Establish National Database on Conservation-Community Interface (NDCCI) to track:
    • Relocation status
    • Compensation paid
    • Post-relocation livelihood outcomes
  • Annual independent audits by empanelled agencies on FRA & WPA compliance.

Institutional Collaboration

• Calls for a National Framework for Community-Centred Conservation and Relocation, jointly managed by:
  • Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA)
  • Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC)
• Mandates greater role for MoTA in relocation planning, approval, and grievance redressal.

What Happens to Those Who Stay?

• FRA allows continued residence within tiger reserves:
  • Rights to habitat, minor forest produce, grazing, fishing, etc.
  • Participation in conservation and eco-tourism.
• Administration must ensure basic infrastructure and public services for those choosing to stay.
• Framework insists on inclusion of communities in biodiversity management committees.

Constitutional & Legal Principles

• Based on Article 46 (promotion of Scheduled Tribes’ interests) and Fifth Schedule (protection of tribal areas).
• Emphasises the “affirmative constitutional duty” of the State to safeguard FRA rights;
  • Curtailment only upon demonstrable ecological necessity.
• Aligns with India’s obligations under UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples) and CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity).

Why the Framework Matters?

• Bridges the gap between two conflicting conservation models — fortress conservation vs rights-based conservation.
• Prevents human rights violations and illegal evictions, previously flagged by NCST and civil society.
• Brings data-driven transparency and accountability to relocation processes.
• Encourages community participation in conservation, promoting sustainable coexistence.

Data & Current Situation

Parameter	Data (as of 2024)
Total Tiger Reserves	55 reserves (≈2.3% of India’s area)
Villages in Core Areas	591 villages
Families in Core Areas	64,801 families
Families Relocated (since 2022)	5,166 families from 56 villages
Relocation Package	₹15 lakh per family
Lead Agencies	NTCA (MoEFCC) & MoTA
Key Litigation Example	Jenu Kuruba vs State of Karnataka (Nagarhole NP)

Way Forward

• MoTA to circulate framework to all State Tribal Welfare & Forest Departments down to district level.
• Joint MoTA–MoEFCC monitoring committee to oversee implementation.
• Independent audits & NDCCI to ensure transparency in compensation and consent verification.
• Policy evaluation every 3 years for adaptive reforms based on ground realities.

Conclusion

• The new policy framework is a corrective step acknowledging that tiger conservation and tribal livelihoods are mutually reinforcing, not mutually exclusive.
• True success will depend on:
  • Genuine Gram Sabha consent
  • Rights recognition before relocation
  • Monitoring post-relocation welfare
• India’s conservation model is thus evolving from “people vs parks” to “people with parks” — aligning ecological integrity with social justice.

---