State PCS - West Bengal (WBCS)

• 02 Jun 2025

Sikari Utsav

Why in News?

South-west Bengal faces ongoing wildlife protection challenges, including the ritualistic hunting celebrated during the regional festival Sikari Utsav.

Key Points

• About Sikari Utsav: 
  • The event takes place during the dry season, specifically from March to May, across the districts of Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Purulia, and Birbhum.
  • During this period, thousands of villagers participate, joined by people from neighbouring districts and states, including Jharkhand, Odisha, and Bihar.
  • The primary activity involves entering the forests to hunt small wildlife species, such as wild boars and wild hares.
• Issues:
  • It harms wildlife populations in the short term and has long-term ecological consequences.
  • Since the festival coincides with the peak season for forest fires, it exacerbates environmental damage.
  • The vast, open forests in this region, located near human settlements, are easily accessible and thus vulnerable to exploitation, especially during festivals.
  • The Forest Department has limited manpower, which hampers its ability to enforce conservation laws effectively, resulting in the continued allowance of destructive activities.
• Way Forward:
  • Community-Based Forest Management: Building on the success of West Bengal’s Joint Forest Management (JFM) committees, it is essential to broaden this participatory model across more regions.
  • Intensify Awareness and Education Campaigns: Shifting the narrative from exploitation to coexistence through dialogue and education will cultivate a shared commitment to protecting ecosystems for future generations.
  • Enhance Law Enforcement and Infrastructure for Forest Protection: Strengthening legal frameworks, enforcing existing forest protection laws rigorously, and investing in infrastructure are necessary to curb destructive human activities such as encroachment and overexploitation.
  • Foster Multi-Stakeholder Cooperation for Long-Term Sustainability: Collaborative action plans and continuous dialogue must prioritize ecological balance, ensuring that environmental protection remains a collective and sustained priority for the future.