Similipal Tiger Conservation Foundation Approves ₹10.48 Crore Annual Plan to Boost Eco-Tourism and Rural Skill Development

Bhubaneswar: The fourth Governing Body meeting of the Similipal Tiger Conservation Foundation was held on Monday at Kharavela Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, with a renewed focus on ecological protection, sustainable tourism, and community empowerment in and around the Similipal Tiger Reserve. The meeting was chaired by Minister of Forests, Environment and Climate Change Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia, who emphasized the Foundation’s multi-pronged vision to balance conservation efforts with local development.

Addressing the members, the Forest Minister reiterated the Foundation’s mission to foster ecological, economic, and cultural advancement within the tiger reserve, while strengthening eco-tourism by actively involving local communities. He also announced that ₹10.48 crore has been earmarked for the Foundation’s Annual Implementation Plan for 2025–26.

A significant portion of the budget will be used to support higher education for meritorious rural students and provide skill development training in areas such as driving, electrical and mechanical trades, and tailoring to youth residing near the Similipal Sanctuary. The goal, said the Minister, is to ensure that conservation efforts go hand-in-hand with improving livelihoods and creating sustainable income sources for forest-dependent communities.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department and Vice President of the Foundation, Satyabrata Sahu, outlined the broad range of initiatives under the new plan. These include awareness campaigns, conservation education, forest staff welfare, eco-tourism infrastructure development, and the continued management of safari services within the Similipal Tiger Reserve.

Sahu proposed involving the Mayurbhanj District Collector in the implementation process and recommended strengthening the skill development component with an allocation of ₹4.2 crore. He also stressed the importance of equipping eco-guides through specialized training and proposed that the Foundation operate two ambulances to serve remote forest villages. He urged officials to seek additional funding from other government departments to accelerate the ecological development of the Similipal region.

The meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including Mayurbhanj Zilla Parishad Chairperson, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Shri Prem Kumar Jha, and other senior forest officials and academics. Valuable suggestions were offered by experts such as Dr. Indramani Nath, former head of Surgery at OUAT Veterinary College, and Dr. Hemant Kumar Sahu, Professor of Zoology at Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada.

Formed on June 22, 2011, under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, the Similipal Tiger Conservation Foundation functions through a Governing Body and an Executive Body. The 10-member Governing Body, headed by the Forest Minister, meets annually to approve the Foundation’s work plan and financial expenditures.

The Foundation implemented projects worth ₹1.26 crore in 2023–24 and ₹3.56 crore in 2024–25. With the newly approved budget of ₹10.48 crore for 2025–26, the Similipal Tiger Conservation Foundation is poised to scale up its impact—protecting one of India’s most vital tiger habitats while uplifting the communities that call it home.