Mankidia denied habitat in Simlipal 

Mankidia denied habitat in Simlipal 

Context

Mankidia, one of the 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) in Odisha, were denied habitat rights inside the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) under the historic Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, as the State Forest Department has objected on grounds that  tribals  could be attacked by wild animals, especially tigers.

Vulnerable Odisha tribe would have been first to benefit from Forest Rights Act

But tribal rights activists said the Forest Department continued to play the role of an obstructionist by denying tribals their rights

Habitat

‘Habitat’ as defined under Section 2(h) of the FRA (Forest Rights Act) includes the area comprising the customary habitat and such other habitats in reserved forests and protected forests of primitive tribal groups and pre-agricultural communities and other forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes,” ChittaranjanPani, a researcher on tribal rights and livelihoods, said.

Mankidia now deprived of Siali

Mankidia, a marginalised group that critically depends on making rope with siali fibre that’s richly available in Similipal, would now be deprived of the non-timber forest produce.

Habitat an obstruction in the free movement of the animals

According to the District Level Committee (DLC) meeting’s proceedings, J. D. Pati, deputy director of STR, had raised objections, saying habitat rights would create barriers for free movement of tigers and other animals.

Risk to life

There is also apprehension of the risk to life of the PVTG,” Mr. Pati said

Confined to the buffer zone

While advocating that habitat rights to PVTG should be confined to STR’s buffer zone.

No threat to life

But, Hemant Kumar Sahu, a researcher with NGO Vasundhara, said, “There is no empirical evidence that Mankidias face tiger threat in their villages.

For decades, they have been residing inside the core area of the tiger reserve with animals

The first to have habitat rights

• The process of recognising habitat rights for Mankidia had made substantial progress before being denied by the DLC. Had it been approved, the Mankidia would have been the first PVTG to have habitat rights
• In Odisha, processes have been initiated for according habitat rights to PVTGs such as Bondas, Didai, Hill Khadia and PaudiBhuyan