Forty-six of 50 members present at the gram sabha gave their consent for relocation. Of the two options for rehabilitation package, they opted for the first one which entitles them to an ex gratia of `10 lakh as per the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines.

“The entire process was conducted as prescribed by the guidelines for holding gram sabha. It was videographed too,” STR Field Director Anup Kumar Nayak said.

The inhabitants will be resettled in a village of their choice outside the critical habitat of the tiger reserve and the Mayurbhanj district administration will help them identify the site.

Although the administration’s responsibility ends with the rehabilitation package, the villagers will be extended housing assistance under Mo Kudia Yojana.

Nayak said the district administration along with STR management will also provide handholding support to the villagers to ensure that they are resettled and are able to earn their livelihood.

This will be the third phase of relocation of human settlement from Similipal’s core. In December last year, 34 families living at Bahagarh and Upper Barhakamda had opted to avail similar rehabilitation packages before relocating to a site at Asankudar near Thakurmunda.

In 2010, STR had recorded its first successful voluntary relocation and rehabilitation wherein 65 families of Jenabil village had accepted the resettlement.