Project Tiger

Project Tiger Project Tiger was launched in 1973 on the basis of the recommendations of a special task force of the Indian Board of Wildlife to (i) ensure maintenance of available population
. of tiger in India, and (ii) preserve the areas of such biological importance as a national heritage for the benefit, education and enjoyment of the people.
Project Tiger is a centrally-sponsored scheme. The states receive 100 per cent financial assistance for non-recurring items and 50 per cent for ap­proved recurring items. The government has ap­proved the following major initiatives for imple­mentation during the Ninth Plan:

. creation of six new tiger reserves;
. project allowances to the fielCl staff of tiger
reserves as an incentive measure for officials who work in very harsh and deficient conditions; and
'. development of paramilitary force in troubled tiger reserves at 100 per cent central assistance.

A beneficiary-oriented scheme for tribal development has been launched to rehabilitate the tribal and other families under relocation plan, to shift the families from inside the protected areas to out­side. The main components are:
. identification of the villages to be
relocated,
. identification of sites for rClocation,
and
. preparation of rehabilitation projects.

An eco-development scheme in and around national parks and sanctuaries including tiger reserves was launched to provide alternate sources of sustenance to the communities living at the fringes of national parks and sanctuaries includ­ing tiger reserves to improve the ecologi­cal productivity of the buffer zones of protected areas through the involvement of these communities in protecting these sanctuaries and national parks and their wildlife.

The various activities undertaken under the scheme are: habitat improve­ment; alternate source of energy; infra­structure building/roads, etc.; and small welfare measures.

'India Eco-Development Project is being implemented in seven protected areas in seven different states as the externally aided centrally-sponsored plan scheme under Eco-Development Around Protected Areas Including Tiger Reserves. It covers two national parks and five tiger reserv~s. The main aim of the project is to conserve biodiversity through eco-develop­ment, effective and extensive support for eco-development and preparation of future bio-diversity projects. The project is implemented in seven areas, namely, Buxa, Palamau, Nagarhole, Periyar, Pench, RanthamboreTiger Reserve and Gir National Park.
There are twenty-seven tiger reserves in the country (see table).