Lok Sabha Question No. 2012 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-11
Subject: Relocation of Forest Dwellers from Tiger Reserves
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dr. Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.-2012

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 11/12/2025

## RELOCATION OF FOREST DWELLERS FROM TIGER RESERVES

## 2012. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  total  number  of  villages  relocated  from  within  tiger  reserves  in  the  last  ten  years, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the number of such relocations conducted voluntarily under the provisions of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006;
- (c) the details of complaints or reports, if any, of involuntary or coerced relocation of Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers from protected areas during the past five years;
- (d)  the  details  of  funds  allocated  and  disbursed  for  the  rehabilitation  and  compensation  to families relocated from tiger reserves during the last five financial years, State-wise;
- (e) the details of the consultations held with Gram Sabhas before village relocation proposals were approved under the FRA framework during the last five years; and
- (f) whether any advisories or circulars have been issued to State Governments, reiterating the principle of voluntary relocation and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)

- (a) & (b): 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; Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra; and Achanakmar and Udanti Sitanadi 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, statewise 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 |            157.93 |
| 2021-22 |            170.58 |
| 2022-23 |            224.2  |
| 2023-24 |            346.1  |
| 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.

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