The Law

The Wildlife Protection Act was passed in 1972 in order to protect the tiger and other wildlife species. According to the Act, “the government can by notification declare its intentions to constitute any area as a sanctuary (Section 18) or a national park (Section 35).” This notification can happen only after the rights of the original inhabitants have been settled. The Act also differentiates between use of forest produce for commercial purposes and for meeting the daily needs of people residing inside or on the periphery of the sanctuary. But this is prohibited in a
national park.

Law failed

Why was the option of “meeting daily needs” given only to people living in sanctuaries and not in national parks? Also, “bona fide” needs of these people and what they include was not clearly defined. Settlement of rights of forest dwellers was neglected because it was not mandatory before the amendment in 1991, and when it did become mandatory, no action was taken. Officials disregarded the rights of the locals, considered them illegal users of their own land and hence, violated the Act themselves.

Harassed, exploited and driven out of their lands, the locals who knew the forest well began assisting poachers in getting rid of the animal they held responsible for their displacement – the tiger. The only way left to save the tiger and other wildlife was to provide the locals with rights over their land and a secure livelihood. A simple, friendly compromise between humans and wildlife.