The Rajasthan government has decided to increase the compensation for relocating six villages from Sariska Tiger Reserve. A survey will be conducted to determine the revised compensation, and the government has assured that the relocation package will be updated accordingly. The Sariska administration has already started preparations for the process.
A total of 1,027 families reside in these six villages, out of which 427 have not yet been relocated. The decision to relocate these villages was made nearly 16 years ago, with compensation initially planned for individuals up to the age of 21. However, the relocation did not take place as planned. Over time, inflation has risen, and many who were teenagers at the time are now adults with their own families. Around 20% of the youth have since married and established households.
Given these changes, the basis for determining compensation needs to be reconsidered, which has been a key demand of the villagers. The Supreme Court has also instructed that the relocation process must be completed by the end of this year, putting additional pressure on the government. In response, the state has decided to revise the compensation package.
Villagers have expressed concerns over the land being allocated for their relocation. They demand that the new settlement areas have fertile land so they can sustain themselves through farming and animal husbandry. Some villagers had previously refused to move because they were being relocated to barren, sandy land.
These six villages are located in the core area (Critical Tiger Habitat – CTH) of Sariska, where tigers reside. The presence of human settlements affects tiger movement. Once the villages are relocated, the tiger habitat will expand by approximately 400 square kilometres, providing the big cats with more space to roam freely.
The government has already included the revision of the relocation package in its budget announcements. As soon as official orders are received, the implementation process will begin.
