8th March 2025 (10 Topics)
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Tribal Rights vs. Tiger Conservation in Similipal
Context
The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has asked the Odisha government to check if proper legal procedures were followed when evicting villagers from Jamunagarh inside Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR). The villagers claim their sacred groves and burial grounds were destroyed to create an enclosure for a tiger named Zeenat.
What Happened?
- Zeenat, a tiger from Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, was relocated to Similipal to increase genetic diversity among tigers.
- Meanwhile, villagers allege that their sacred sites were bulldozed for Zeenat’s enclosure and that they were forcibly evicted between 2015 and 2022 without proper consent.
- Government Response
- The Ministry has asked Odisha officials to check if the villagers' rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, were respected.
- It has also asked whether villagers were consulted and if any study was conducted to assess whether they posed a threat to wildlife.
- If resettlement was necessary, the Ministry insists it must follow legal procedures and ensure affected villagers' livelihoods.
Why It Matters?
- Tribal population in Odisha constitutes 22.85%, facing economic challenges and decreasing land ownership.
- This case highlights the conflict between wildlife conservation and tribal rights. The government aims to protect tigers, but tribal communities argue their rights and cultural heritage must not be ignored. Experts stress that for conservation to succeed, local people must support and understand the process.
Tribal Rights in India
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