Report reveals Project Tiger displaced 550,000 tribal communities

Project Tiger may displace at least 550,000 scheduled tribes and forest dwellers in India, according to a report by the Rights and Risk Analysis Group (RRAG) on the occasion of International Tiger Day. This displacement rate has increased significantly compared to earlier

Scroll down to figures

Before 2021, about 254,794 people were displaced from the 50 tiger reserves, an average of about 5,000 people per reserve. Since then, the average displacement rate across the six reserves has increased to 48,333 per reserve, an increase of 967%.

Main affected areas

• The report says the most significant displacements will be:
• Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan: 160,000 people
• Nauradeshi Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh: 72,772 people
• Ranipur Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh: 45,000 people

Hundreds of displaced people will also appear in other reserves such as Ramgarh Vishdhari and Srivilliputhur-Megamalai.

Rights violations

The RRAG report highlights systemic human rights violations related to forced evictions. Indigenous communities often lose access to their homes, resources and cultural sites. The report claims that the government has ignored the free and informed consent required under the Forest Rights Act. Evictions are often accompanied by serious human rights violations. Victims reportedly faced threats, violence and arbitrary arrests for their actions such as gathering food or opposing the movement.

About Project Tiger

Started in 1973 in India, Project Tiger aimed to protect the dwindling population of Bengal tigers. It was initiated by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The project initially established 9 tiger reserves across India, which has now expanded to more than 50. Thanks to significant conservation efforts, encouraging community participation, the tiger population has increased from about 1,800 in 1970 to more than 2,900.

Source

Latest Updates on NASA-ISRO NISAR Satellite