Tribal Rights

Syllabus Areas:

GS II - Polity and Governance

GS III - Environment

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has circulated a draft policy on the relocation and rehabilitation of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers living within protected areas (like tiger reserves).

This aims to address the long-standing issue of balancing tribal rights and wildlife conservation.

Previous Framework

  • Earlier, relocations were managed under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines and the Project Tiger framework (1973).
  • NTCA’s model emphasized voluntary relocation—people could move out of core forest areas with monetary compensation.
  • However, over time, several issues emerged: lack of consent, inadequate rehabilitation, and poor oversight.

What Triggered the New Policy

  • The Tribal Affairs Ministry received complaints from civil society and state governments about forced or poorly managed relocations.
  • It cited the need for a uniform, transparent framework that protects the rights of forest dwellers under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
  • The new framework aims to replace the NTCA’s relocation policy with one grounded in equity, dignity, and informed consent.

Features of the New Policy Draft

  • The policy proposes clear criteria for identifying who may be relocated and under what circumstances.
  • It mandates free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of affected families.
  • Relocation should happen only after Gram Sabha approval and individual compensation.
  • There will be independent monitoring, annual social audits, and the creation of a National Rehabilitation and Ecosystem Restoration Commission.
  • The policy emphasizes ecological restoration of vacated areas while ensuring sustainable livelihoods for resettled families.

Why This Matters

  • Relocation from protected areas has been a contentious issue, often pitting conservationists against tribal rights activists.
  • Mismanaged relocations have led to loss of livelihoods, cultural disintegration, and legal conflicts over FRA rights.
  • The policy seeks to harmonize conservation efforts with human rights obligations.
  • India currently has 53 tiger reserves; over 66,000 families have reportedly been relocated since 1973, many without proper consent or benefits.
Tribal Rights

Broader Implications

  • The draft aims to ensure relocations are truly voluntary and legally compliant with the Forest Rights Act.
  • It reflects a shift from a “fortress conservation” model (evicting people for wildlife protection) to a rights-based conservation
  • Success will depend on coordination between the Environment and Tribal Affairs ministries, and strict implementation by state governments.

Prelims Questions:

1. Under the draft policy on relocation and rehabilitation of forest-dwelling communities, which of the following statements is/are correct?
  1. It proposes the establishment of a National Rehabilitation and Ecosystem Restoration Commission.
  2. It mandates free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of affected families before relocation.
  3. The policy allows relocation without Gram Sabha consent if the area is declared a critical tiger habitat.
Select the correct answer:
  1. 1 only
  2. 1 and 2 only
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3
1. Consider the following statements regarding the glymphatic system:
  1. It is responsible for removing metabolic waste from the brain during sleep.
  2. The process is regulated by the neurotransmitter norepinephrine.
  3. Sleeping pills enhance the glymphatic system's efficiency.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2, and 3
2. Consider the following statements regarding relocation from tiger reserves:
  1. Relocation must be voluntary and based on informed consent.
  2. Compensation includes land-for-land or monetary packages.
  3. Relocation without FRA compliance is a violation of law.
Which of the above statements are correct?
  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 1 and 3 only
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3
3. Which of the following pairs are correctly matched?
Organisation/Policy Primary Function
1. NTCA Conservation of tigers and management of tiger reserves
2. FRA, 2006 Recognition of rights of forest dwellers
3. New Draft Policy (2024) Framework for voluntary relocation and ecosystem restoration
Select the correct answer using the code below:
  1. only one
  2. only two
  3. All Three
  4. None