Project Tiger shining success story: EAM
The Project Tiger is a shining example of success and the credit goes to the tribal communities who have been the unsung heroes, said External Affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday.
Speaking at the second edition of the art exhibition, “Silent Conversation: From Margins to the Centre”, Jaishankar said India’s development journey was deeply intertwined with environmental preservation.
“The Project Tiger has completed 50 years and this is not an exaggeration; it has been a shining example of success. The tribal communities have been the unsung heroes and they deserve immense credit for this. Their guardianship of the forest and protection of the wildlife, the connection which they make with the tiger and with nature as involving the spirit of sustainability. I think there is a lot that we can learn today from our tribal brothers and sisters India,” he said
The exhibition organised by National Tiger Conservation Authority and Sankala Foundation has 200 paintings and 100 art pieces from 22 tiger reserves of the country. The art exhibition conveys the relationship between tribal communities and forest dwellers residing around tiger reserves.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi constantly emphasises that conservation is not a barrier to development. On the contrary, it is an enabler. Under this leadership, we have achieved remarkable progress in environmental conservation and Tiger protection,” Jaishankar said.
He called the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) as the most innovative and interesting initiatives of Indian diplomacy. “Actually, we were also able to reach out to many countries who had very similar commitment to safeguarding and strengthening diversity, and we are really pleased today to see how much of a difference it can make for conservation of tigers,” Jaishankar said.
