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Paper short abstract:

This study analyzes the effects of relocation from Sariska Tiger Reserve on indigenous communities by comparing relocated and non-relocated households. It calls for collaborative approaches that balance environmental and social justice in conservation policies.

Paper long abstract:

Conservation policies in postcolonial South Asia have often prioritized ecological concerns over social and economic considerations, leading to the displacement of rural and indigenous communities for protected area management. This paper examines one such case - the relocation of villages from Sariska Tiger Reserve in Western India. Relocation from Sariska has been hailed as an example of successful conservation, but there has been little research on its impacts on the quotidian livelihoods and identities of displaced indigenous communities. Through a comparative study of 86 relocated households and 96 households still residing inside Sariska, we map the heterogeneous environmental histories of these rural communities across time. The study finds out that the average income from livestock rearing has decreased after moving outside and expenses have increased due to non-availability of NTFP products. Factors shows that literates in the region are willing to relocate but due to lowering income and non-availability of natural resources after moving outside are the main reason for people to not relocate. The study gainsays says that a shift from traditional conservation paradigm to a more collaborative-community oriented criterion can possibly satisfy the needs of communities and conservation.

For marginalized rural groups, everyday livelihood practices are deeply linked to local ecologies. Their perspectives must be integrated into conservation policies through community collaborations, to balance environmental sustainability with social justice. Our micro-level study provides empirical evidence from the ground to inform more intersectional approaches for relocation and protected area management in 21st century South Asia.