Neha BaruahTiger Expansion
Tiger Expansion: A report by the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) released on International Tiger Day highlights that Project Tiger in India could displace approximately 550,000 Scheduled Tribes and forest dwellers. This figure represents a notable rise in displacement compared to figures reported prior to 2021.
Displacement Data
Before 2021, approximately 254,794 people were displaced from 50 tiger reserves, averaging around 5,000 per reserve. Since then, the average displacement across six reserves has surged to 48,333 per reserve, representing a 967% increase.
Key Impact Zones
The report identifies the most significant displacements occurring in:
- Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan: 160,000 people
- Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh: 72,772 people
- Ranipur Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh: 45,000 people
Other reserves, such as Ramgarh Vishdhari and Srivilliputhur-Megamalai, will also see hundreds displaced.
Human Rights Violations
The RRAG report exposes systemic human rights abuses tied to forced evictions under Project Tiger. Indigenous communities frequently face loss of their homes, resources, and cultural heritage. The report alleges that the government often disregards the Forest Rights Act’s requirement for free and informed consent. Evictions are reported to involve severe human rights violations, including threats, violence, and arbitrary arrests for actions such as collecting food or opposing the relocations.
About Project Tiger
Initiated in 1973 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Project Tiger was designed to halt the decline of the Bengal tiger population. The program began with nine tiger reserves and has now expanded to over 50. Conservation efforts have successfully increased the tiger population from about 1,800 in the 1970s to over 2,900 in 2018. The project’s achievements have not only advanced global conservation initiatives but also fostered greater community engagement in wildlife protection.
Neha Baruah
