Replying to an un-starred question today in Lok Sabha the Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed that 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; TadobaAndhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra; and Achanakmar and UdantiSitanadi 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, state-wise 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	224.20
2023-24	346.10
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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