The compensation paid to tribal and other forest-dwelling communities displaced from tiger reserves should be revised to bring it in consonance with the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has told the Union environment ministry. The commission has also asked the environment ministry to withdraw a March, 2017, directive of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) which had frozen settlement of tribal rights entitled under Forest Rights Act, 2006.

NCST’s made these recommendations following a meeting with union environment ministry, tribal ministry and ministry of rural development in September. A constitutional body, the NCST began reviewing compensation paid to those displaced from tiger reserves this January and had formed an expert group to study the issue. The expert group suggested that the monetary compensation be revised to Rs 15 lakh per family from Rs 10 lakh paid earlier.

However, in August, NCST felt the revised financial package suggested was not enough and thus sought the views of the ministry of rural development. Officials from the ministry of the rural development said that the Land Act is applicable to all Scheduled Tribe persons in Scheduled areas as well as outside of Scheduled areas. Tribal families moved out from tiger zones would be entitled to financial compensation in his new place, along with rights under the Forest Rights Act, the official added, minutes of the September meeting showed.