Odisha State forest department has denied a habitat rights to Manikidia primitive tribes near Simlipal Sanctuary. District administration was trying to help Mankidia people getting their habitat rights under Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 so that they can be mainstreamed in the development process.
-The Odisha State Forest Department has objected habitat rights on grounds that Mankidias could be attacked by wild animals, especially tigers.
Who is Mankidia: Mankidia is one of the 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) in Odisha. They live in the dense forests of Simalipal in Mayurbhanj District of Odisha.
What is habitat right: 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.
What is Simlipal: Simlipal is a tiger reserve as well as a wildlife sanctuary. It derives its name from the abundance of semul or red silk cotton trees that bloom vividly here, the Simlipal National Park is home to three of India’s biggest animal species –Tiger, Asian Elephant and Gaur. Simlipal Tiger Reserve is famous for best care of tigers in india.
-It was declared as a tiger reserve in 1973.
-It is part of the Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve popularly known as Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, which includes three protected areas — Similipal Tiger Reserve, Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary.
-It was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1979.
-The Government of India declared Simlipal as a biosphere reserve in 1994.
– UNESCO added this national park to its list of Biosphere Reserves in May 2009.
-As 10,000 people live in 61 villages in the forest that is why Simlipal is yet to be declared a full-fledged park.
What is Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups?
-Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are more vulnerable among the various tribal groups of India.
-Due to their vulnerability, more developed and assertive tribal groups take a major chunk of the tribal development funds, because of which PVTGs need more funds directed for their development.
-In above context, in 1975, the Government of India initiated to identify the most vulnerable tribal groups as a separate category called PVTGs and declared 52 such groups, while in 1993 an additional 23 groups were added to the category, making it a total of 75 PVTGs out of 705 Scheduled Tribes, spread over 17 states and one Union Territory (UT), in the country (2011 census).
– The state governments or UT governments submit proposals to the Union Ministry of Tribal Welfare for identification of PVTGs. The Central Ministry then examines the proposals in consultation with the Niti Aayog. After ensuring the criteria is fulfilled, the Central Ministry selects those groups as PVTGs.
–Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups in the state of Odisha, are (13); Birhor, Bondo, Didayi, Dongria-Khond, Juangs, Kharias, Kutia Kondh, Lanjia Sauras, Lodhas, Mankidias, Paudi Bhuyans, Soura and Chuktia Bhunjia.
