After three decades of sustained struggle with Forest officials, 340 families of the Tharu tribe of Surma village located in the core tiger habitat area of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve are a happy lot. The state government has asked the Lakhimpur Kheri district administration to convert the village into a revenue one and give Tharus their rightful claims under the Forest Act of 2006. While Forest officials were sceptical of the move not working in favour of tigers, Forest activists believe that the move will help the tiger populace. Known as an ardent