BENGALURU: A new rehabilitation package for families opting for relocation from tiger reserves and national parks has come into effect on January 5 this year. The state government has enhanced the package amount from Rs 10 to Rs 15 lakh.
This has been done as per the guidelines framed by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in 2003. The government had taken this decision after deliberations with experts and stakeholders as thousands of families still reside inside the protected areas.
As per the new order, under the second option of the new rehabilitation package, if one family has 3 acres of agricultural land and a 50 by 80 feet house or a site, they will be entitled to a total amount of Rs 15 lakh. However, opposing the new package, NGOs and people concerned with relocation of tribals and farmers say it may not bring in the much-needed tangible benefits to people willing to relocate outside these areas. In fact, many affected families and groups are proposing to meet the Mysuru district authorities to demand a modified order.
No major benefit to tribals
Praveen Bhargav and K M Chinnappa, trustees of Wildlife First, who have been in the forefront of rehabilitation programmes in Karnataka say, “Even though the package has been hiked from Rs 10 to 15 lakh, this will not benefit tribal people much due to two reasons. Firstly, the amount for settlement of rights gets reduced from the current Rs 3.0 lakh (30% of 10 lakh) to Rs 2.25 lakh (15% of 15 lakh). If the same 30% is retained, each tribal family would stand to get Rs 4.5 lakh. Secondly, house construction and community facility development (which are civil works executed by the Forest Department spending the package money) has more than doubled from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 6.15 lakh.
Since 3 acres of government land is being provided, there will be substantial savings in the land development component of Rs 6 lakh which must reach the tribal beneficiaries, they add.
“In the larger interests of delivering social justice, we urge for modification of the Government Order by retaining the same percentages for ‘settlement of rights and incentive components’ in the revised package. This would ensure that each tribal family gets an additional benefit of Rs 1.75 lakh, that is Rs 1.5 lakh for settlement of rights and Rs 25,000 incentive.”
It may be recalled that as per NTCA guidelines, dated February 25, 2008, families residing in tiger reserves and national parks (before the notification of tiger reserve and national park) are to be rehabilitated giving them a specified amount. Under this programme, the NTCA has been providing Rs 10 lakh per family.