Maldharis Tribe | UPSC

MALDHARIS TRIBE

• The Maldhari community is a tribe of herdsmen in the border state of Gujarat.

• The lions have been periodically hunting the Maldhari cattle for food, but the Maldharis understand the cycle of life.
• They consider the taken cows an offering to the lions, whose territory they share.

Maldharis Tribe | UPSC

DISTRIBUTION

• They have co-existed with the lions, which the Gir National Park was created to preserve, for these thousand years.

THREATS

• The unbridled development over past few years has disturbed the centuries-long lifestyle of these nomadic herdsmen.
• Although the grassland reserve is off-limits to industries, several exist at its periphery and have been dumping toxic contaminants into the reserve’s natural resources.
• Recently built dams, overgrazing have also taken their toll.

• The tree grew into an invasive species threatening local grass and tree species.
• However, the tribe and its lifestyle was most threatened by the creation of the Gir National Park.
• Creation of a sanctuary for lions necessitated movement of humans out of the region, so as to provide a safe shelter for the large cats.
• However, the Maldhari community steadfastly protested any relocation.

• The Maldhari tribesmen have had to face eviction threats and accusations by government authorities of endangering the lions, just for living in the land of their forefathers.
• In addition, due to mismanagement of the existing population of lions in the National Park, the interaction between the lions and the tribals have increased over the past few decades.
• Experts note that although the populations of lions have been increasing, the land has been shrinking.

RIGHTS UNDER FRA

• Under the provisions of the Act, forest dwellers cannot be displaced unless the rights settlement process has been completed.

• Only forest rights committees have been formed, but nothing has moved beyond that.
• Moreover, the Act has a special provision for setting up ‘Critical Wildlife Habitats’ (CWH), for the conservation of the species.

ENLARGING GIR

• Lions are found in Gujarat across an area of 30,000 sq km called the Asiatic Lion Landscape (ALL).

• These people are the Maldharis, who have resided in the area for several generations.
• They live in settlements called ness and make their living by selling milk from their water buffaloes.

THE PROPOSAL

• The Project Lion proposal acknowledges that the Maldharis who stay within the Gir protected area.
• They make a 75 per cent higher profit compared to those living outside it due to free access to grazing, sale of manure with topsoil and compensation for predated livestock.

• The proposal offered to all forest dwellers within the core zone to relocate outside with hand holding Additional perks.
• The budgetary outlay proposed for the relocation of 2,500 Maldhari families has been kept at Rs 500 crore over the next 10 years.
• Each family eligible for a compensatory sum of Rs 20 lakh.

THE TUSSLE FOR CONSERVATION

• Not only have some lions started exploring outside the reserve for food, but some tribesmen from Maldhari and other communities have also been charged of poisoning or poaching lions.
• This tussle between local communities and conservation almost always turns out bad in the long run.
• Communities not only possess the knowledge required for devising conservation practices, but also the tools and the zeal.

• In this direction, the government did make an effort by passing the Recognition of Forest Rights Bill in 2006.
• The bill recognized the rights of forest-dwellers to stay in the land of their ancestors.
• However, more efforts are required to ensure proper integration of local communities in conservation efforts.