Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh chaired a meeting here today to review Tiger conservation status in the country and the functioning of the National Tiger Conservation Authority. While expressing concern about the decline in Tiger population, Prime Minister noted that recent estimates of Tiger population, arrived at on the basis of a new methodology, cannot be compared with earlier estimates.

Stating that the Government of India is fully committed to Tiger conservation, the Prime Minister said the Central Government will further enhance financial and organizational support for efforts in this direction. Prime Minister directed that the Centre should fund modernization of Tiger Reserves management, including recruitment of staff from local population and providing them adequate equipment. He sought a State-specific strategy for such central assistance.

Government has recently approved an enhanced relocation package of up to Rs. 10 lakhs per family for families living in Tiger Reserves. Schemes for rehabilitation of traditional hunters; for supporting new Tiger Reserves; for supporting eco-tourism benefitting local communities; for deployment of anti-poaching staff; and, for improving service conditions of forest officers have also been taken up.

Noting that some States have a better record of Tiger conservation than others, the meeting stressed the importance of concerned State Governments paying focused attention. Chief Ministers have been asked to take personal charge of Tiger conservation and forest management. The Prime Minister will convene a Conference of Chief Ministers of States with Tiger Reserves to put in place a coordinated response to the challenge of Tiger conservation.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Forests, Shri Regupathy, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, senior officials of the Prime Minister's Office and ministry of environment and forests, and Director, National Tiger Conservation Authority.