The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 has been amended in 2006, and a separate chapter (Chapter IVB) has been provided, which interalia, provides for constituting the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), its powers and functions, reporting requirements, constitution of State level Steering Committees, preparation of Tiger Conservation Plan, explanation regarding the core or critical tiger habitat and the buffer or peripheral areas of a tiger reserve and establishment of the Tiger Conservation Foundation. The said amendment came into force with effect from 4th of September, 2006. The above statutory provisions have been incorporated to strengthen tiger conservation in the country vis-à-vis the urgent recommendations of the Tiger Task Force constituted by the National Board for Wildlife. The purpose of this Protocol is to facilitate the State Forest Departments to carry out village relocation from notified core/critical tiger habitats, in compliance of the relevant provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, read with the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, while complying with the earlier advisories issued in this regard.