Sunday, August 9, 2009
Passing off money as rehabilitation not enough
A recent post in this blog had highlighted problems faced by locals residing in forest areas for generations. Most complain about the lack of irrigation facilities and other means of earning livelihood as basic reason for not being happy with the package being offered by the Govt. Though on paper the policy does provide for the state officials to ensure all amenities are provided, on ground how ever aparthy combined with corruyption is threatning to undo the well thought out initiative. A report in Indian Express today cites similar problems being faced by families residing in Anamlai Tiger Reserve in TamilNadu where locals are finding it tough to surive in the new alloted areas. The Rs. 10 lac per family package and land is by no means enough for families with little of no education to survive in new areas. What the govt needs to do is create employment opportunities for adults in teh families to be able to earn arespectable living. The bestway to do it is to involve them in forest protection and use their local knowledge to benefit the sanctuaries. along side providing education to the children of these families should be priority so that their dependence upon forest and its produce it obliterated in the long run. Only then would these rehabilitatoin packages become successful.
Tiger cubs sighted in Valimiki tiger reserve in Bihar
Good news apart, the disturbing news is that no one can ensure their safety what with the park authorities and state government not even bothering to notify core areas of the park for access to more protection and funds from the centre.
2 more cubs sighted in Bihar tiger reserve
Comprehensive piece in TOI today on Tiger Status - Good read
What is noteworthy is how southern states esp Karnataka seem to have taken a huge leap in ensuring tiger protection. Perhaps it is related to their overall lead on development indices too as compared to their northern counterparts like UP, MP Bihar.
This may be the last time you see a tiger
Dudhwa tiger census to include counts in peripheral areas
According to a TOI report, WWF has appointed a local NGO to carry out tiger census in fields surrounding Dudhwa Tiger sanctuary near India - Nepal border. It is pertinent to note that a national tiger census is also going tobe carried out across 28 national parks in India in October this year following the first scientific camera trap method based census carried out in 2007 which put the tiger numbers in the country at around 1400.
WWF appoints local NGO for counting tigers in Dudhwa |
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