Source: TH
Context: A report by the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) released on International Tiger Day highlights that Project Tiger will displace approximately 5.5 lakh Scheduled Tribes and other forest dwellers.
- The number of displaced individuals from tiger reserves has surged dramatically since 2021, with an average increase of 967% per protected area.
- Smaller displacements are noted in reserves in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.
- The report criticizes the lack of free, prior, and informed consent as mandated by the Forest Rights Act and the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
The report also notes a positive example of coexistence in Karnataka’s Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve, where the Soliga tribe lives harmoniously with tigers, resulting in a significant increase in the tiger population.
