I am a social anthropologist by training having obtained my Ph.D. from the University of Delhi on the topic- “Competing for Space-Human, Animal Relationship in the Fringe Villages of Kaziranga National Park (Assam): A Study in Conservation Policy’ pursued under Doctoral Fellowship of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR). I have also qualified for the UGC-NET. Earlier, I had also obtained M.Sc. in Anthropology from the University of Delhi.
My interest lies in the Public Policy discourse around Natural Resource Management and Indigenous Communities; People-Protected Areas & Wildlife; Relocation; Human-Wildlife Conflict; Political Ecology; and Landscape Restoration. I have been serving as a faculty member at IIFM since June 2010. Before IIFM, I worked at the Wildlife Trust of India and WWF-India for about five years.
At IIFM, I teach courses that try to enable students to appreciate the nuances of the human-nature interface. The courses that I have taught so far are- (i) Natural Resource Management for Rural Development; (ii) People, Parks, and Wildlife; (iii) Society and Polity; (iv) NGO Management; and (v) Civil Society and Corporate Environmental Responsibility. I have been part of many research and action projects as a Principal Investigator and Team Member throughout my career. Most of the projects have been multi-disciplinary and my entry point into such projects has been as an Anthropologist bringing to bear an ethnographic, emic lens to issues at the interface of human-forest/wildlife relationship and management. Some of the key projects that I have been part of include (i) Kalandar Alternative Livelihood project which was funded by the World Society for Protection of Animals (now known as World Animal Protection), United Kingdom (2007-10) that ended the cruelty around performing with live sloth bear; (ii) Human-Wildlife Conflict research and community management in states like erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra; (iii) Impact Evaluation of National Rural Livelihood Mission activities undertaken by Madhya Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission; (iv) Shahtoosh Workers’ Alternative Livelihood funded by the British High Commission (2008-09) for ensuring the transition of Shahtoosh workers to sustainable and legal livelihoods. I have also published my work in journals, and books, as well as in the form of peer-reviewed reports. Besides, I have also presented academic papers at conferences at national and international levels.
I have also been part of several Government Appointed Committees, such as (i) Monitoring of Village Relocation from Tiger Reserves of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha; (ii) Member of the steering committee constituted for tiger conservation in Madhya Pradesh (under section 38U of WPA) by the state government; (iii) Member of the Expert Committee on Critical Wildlife Habitat in Madhya Pradesh etc.
At IIFM, I have also handled many academic and administrative responsibilities, including Chief Administrative Officer, Chairperson- Placement & Summer Internship; Chairperson- Hostel & Mess Management etc. I am also the Chairperson of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Forest-Based Livelihoods and Tribal Studies.
- Society & Polity (PGP)
- People, Parks & Wildlife (PGP)
- Social Sustainability Management (PGP)
- Natural Resource Management for Rural Development (PGP)
- NGO Management (PGP)
- Civil Society and Corporate Environmental Responsibility (M.Phil)
- Sarma, U. K., & Barpujari, I. (2024). Coexistence and the SDGs: an argument for a rights-based approach to human-wildlife conflict in India. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 1–9.
- Sarma, U.K., & Barpujari, I. (2023). Realizing a Rights-Based Approach to Relocation from Protected Areas: Lessons from Village Relocation from Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India. Land Use Policy, 125.
- Sarma, U.K., & Barpujari, I. (2020). Relocation from Tiger Reserves under the NTCA Guidelines. Economic and Political Weekly, 55 (30), 33-39.
- Barpujari, I, & Sarma, U.K. (2018). Protection of Traditional Knowledge: Role of the National IPR Policy. Economic and Political Weekly, 53 (41), 29-34.
- Tambe, S., Patnaik, P., Bisaria, J., Pandey, A., Sarma, U.K., & Vadivelu, G.A. (2017). How Does Government Microfinance Impact the Rural Poor? Evidence from Madhya Pradesh. Economic & Political Weekly, Vol. 52 (52), 81-87.
- Barpujari, I., & Sarma, U.K. (2017). Traditional Knowledge in the Time of Neo- Liberalism: Access and Benefit-Sharing Regimes in India and Bhutan. The International Indigenous Policy Journal, 8(1).
- Gupta, H .S., M .Yadav, M. Verma, A. David , U.K. Sarma & C.P. Kala. (2014). Science and Business of Carbon Forestry. New Delhi: TERI Press
- Sarma, U.K., & Barpujari, I. (2012). Revisiting the Debate on Intellectual Property Rights and raditional Knowledge of Biodiversity: Accommodating Local Realities and Perspectives. The International Indigenous Policy Journal, 3(4).
- Sarma, U.K. (2012). Economic System of Production: A Study in an Indian Village. Germany: LAMBERT Academic Publishing.
- Sarma, U.K. (2012). Unit 2: Culture-Environment Relationships. In Block II- Theoretical and Methodological Issues of Environmental Anthropology (Environmental Anthropology, Masters Programme). New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).
- Sarma, U.K. (2012). Unit 2: Economic Organisations. In Block VI- Economic and Political Organisation (Comparative Ethnography, Masters Programme). New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).
- Sarma, U.K. (2011). Unit 3: Production, Exchange, Distribution and Utilization. In Block VII- Economic and Political Organization (Social Anthropology, Masters Programme). New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).
- Sarma, U.K., & Barpujari, I. (2011). Eco-Cosmologies and Biodiversity Conservation: Continuity and Change among the Karbis of Assam. The International Indigenous Policy Journal, 2(4).
- D’Cruze,N., Sarma, U.K., Mookerjee, A., Singh, B., Louis, J., Mahapatra, R.P., Jaiswal, V.P., Roy, T.K., & Kumari, I. (2011). Dancing bears in India: A Sloth Bear Status Report. Ursus, International Association for Bear Research and Management, 22 (2), 99- 105.
- Barpujari, I., & Sarma, U.K. (2010). Political Autonomy in the Time of Legal Pluralism: The Case of the Tiwa Tribe of Assam. Jharkhand Journal of Development and Management Studies, 8 (4), 4119-4133.
- Sarma, U.K., & Barpujari, I. (2010). From Philanthropy to ‘Multi-Stakeholder’ Participation: Has CSR in India Come of Age?. Jharkhand Journal of Development and Management Studies, 8 (2), pp. 3883-3897.
- Choudhary, S., Ali, M., Mubashir, T., Ahmad, S.N., Sofi, M.N., Mughal, I., Sarma,U.K., Srivastava, A.K., & Kaul, R. (2008). Predator Alert: Attacks on Humans by Leopards and Asiatic Black Bear in the Kashmir Valley- Analysis of Case Studies and Spatial Patterns of Elevated Conflict, Conservation Action Series. New Delhi: Wildlife Trust of India
- Sarma, U.K., & Easa, P.S. (2006). Living with Giants- Understanding Human- Elephant Conflict in Maharashtra and Adjoining Areas, Occasional Report No.22. New Delhi: Wildlife Trust of India.
- Sarma, U.K., Easa, P.S., & Menon, Vivek. (2006). Deadly Tracks- A Scientific Approach to Understanding and Mitigating Elephant Mortality due to Train Hits in Assam, Occasional Report No. 24. New Delhi: Wildlife Trust of India.
- Barpujari, I., & Sarma, U.K. (2006). Slums and ‘Culture of Poverty’: A Case Study of Jayashree Harizan Colony of Guwahati. In Datta Ray, B., & Das, G. (Eds.), Informality And Poverty: Urban Landscape of India’s North-East (pp 254-266). New Delhi: Akansha Publishing House.
- Sarma, U.K. (2005, February). Rhinos Can Live with Tribals. Down to Earth, 13 (19), 53.
- Sarma, U.K. (2004). Experience of Protected Areas, National Parks and Participatory Conservation with emphasis on Kaziranga National Park. Journal of North East Council for Social Science Research, 28 (1), 9-14.
- Sarma, U.K. (2003). Seeking Bio-diversity Conservation with Indigenous Knowledge: A Study in the Fringe Villages of Kaziranga National Park. In Kalla, A.K., & D.K. Bhattacharya (Eds.), Understanding People of India (pp.527-534). New Delhi: University of Delhi.
Select Conference Presentations
- Sarma, U.K. & Barpujari, I. ‘Voluntary Relocation as a Counter-Intuitive Approach to Mitigating HWC in Protected Areas: ‘Lifeworld’ Experiences from Satpura Tiger Reserve, India’. Presented at the International Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence in Oxford, United Kingdom
- Barpujari, I., & Sarma, U.K. (2017, June). Reconciling Property Rights with Indigenous ‘Life-worlds’: Traditional Knowledge in the Age of Neo-liberalism and Commodification. Presented at the International Conference on Property and Environment in Developing Countries, organized by the ANR Govenpro, National Museum of Natural History, Paris, France.
- Sarma, U.K. (2011, March). Communities and Conservation: Changes in Time and Space. Presented at the workshop of TERI-UNDP on Devising a Legal Regime for Protecting Traditional Knowledge of Medicinal Plants, TERI, New Delhi.
- Sarma, U.K. (2011, February). Examining the Applicability of Sustainable Livelihoods Approach: A Case of the Kalandars of Chhattisgarh. Presented at the National Workshop of Department of Panchayat & Rural Development, M.P & IIFM on Sustainable Livelihood: Challenges & Opportunities, IIFM, Bhopal.
- Sarma, U.K. (2010, September). Making Participatory Conservation Work in Kaziranga National Park, Assam: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Presented at the Seminar of UNESCO’S World Heritage Biodiversity Project & IIT Guwahati on Understanding Conservation: Perspectives from Manas and Kaziranga National Parks, IIT Guwahati.
- Sarma, U.K., Singh, B., D’Cruze, N., & Mookerjee, A. (2010, May). Dancing Bears in India: Application of a Sustainable Livelihoods Approach. Poster session presented at the 19th Conference of the International Association for Bear Research & Management, Tbilisi, Georgia.
- Sarma, U.K. (2006, January). Reconciling the Interests of Man & Animal through Participatory Conservation Approach: A Case Study of KNP, Assam. Presented at the 93rd Session of the Indian Science Congress, under the Young Scientist Programme, Hyderabad, India.
- Bora, P.J., Sharma, A., Sarma, U.K., Choudhury, A.U., Aziz, T., Williams, A.C., & Areendran, G. (2005, February). Beyond Kaziranga: A WWF Vision for the Kaziranga- KarbiAnglong Landscape. Presented at the Kaziranga Centenary International Seminar. Kaziranga National Park, India.
- Sarma, U.K. (2004, March). Tribes and Forest Policy in the Light of Participatory Conservation. Presented at the National Seminar of the Indian Anthropological Association (University of Delhi) on Tribes, State Policies and NGO’s, India International Centre, New Delhi.
Select Projects
- Coevolution and Interdependence of River Narmada, Forests and Scheduled Tribes: A Pilot Study to Understanding the Linkage between Culture, Livelihoods and Conservation. Funded by SGP, IIFM (Ongoing)
- Crisis Response and Forest-Resource Use: Tracking Rural Livelihood Decisions in Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic in Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary and Adjoining Areas (India); Principal Investigator; Funded by SGP- IIFM
- Understanding Human-Bear Conflict in Madhya Pradesh; Principal Investigator; Funded by IIFM (2012-13).
- Evaluating Changing Dynamics in the People-Forest Relationship: A Study in Satpura Tiger Reserve; Principal Investigator; Funded by the National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB), Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (2011-12).
- Karbi Anglong Wildlife Conservation (Conservation Action); Team Member; Funded by the Japan Tiger & Elephant Fund (2008-10).
- Kalandar Alternative Livelihood (Conservation Action); Team Lead; Funded by the World Society for Protection of Animals (now known as World Animal Protection), United Kingdom (2007-10).
- Elephant Mortality due to Train Hits; Team Lead; Funded by International Fund for Animal Welfare (2006)
- Shahtoosh Workers' Alternative Livelihood (Conservation Action); Team Member; Funded by the British High Commission (2008-09).
- Human-Bear/Leopard Conflict Survey; Team Member; Funded by the Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu & Kashmir (2006-07).
- Human-Elephant Conflict Survey in Maharashtra; Team Lead; Funded by International Fund for Animal Welfare (2006)
- MDP (training) on ‘Management of Village Relocation from Tiger Reserves’ for ‘Other Stakeholders’, sponsored by the MOEF&CC, Govt. of India (completed in 2023).
- MDP (training) on ‘Management of Village Relocation from Tiger Reserves’ for Personnel of Other Government Departments, sponsored by the MOEF&CC, Govt. of India (completed in 2022).
- MDP (training) on ‘Management of Village Relocation from Tiger Reserves’ for ‘Other Stakeholders’, sponsored by the MOEF&CC, Govt. of India (completed in 2022).
- MDP (training) on ‘Community Resource Management’ for Women Scientist, sponsored by the DST, Govt. of India (completed in 2022).
- Community Health and Family Medicine Workshop for Students at IIFM (Bhopal), 7th of November 2015 (Conducted in collaboration with the Community and Family Medicine Department, AIIMS Bhopal
- ‘Citizen Café Workshop’ at IIFM (Bhopal), 3rd and 4th of October 2015 (Conducted in collaboration with ‘We the People’).
- Youth Seminar on Green Growth: Preparing Youth for Sustainable Living at IIFM (Bhopal) on 16-17 March, 2013 (Conducted in collaboration with The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI), New Delhi).
- Asia Regional Bamboo and Rattan Workshop at Hotel Samrat, New Delhi, 10-13 December, 2013 (Conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation).
- National Workshop on Forest and Livelihoods at IIFM (Bhopal), 27th of July 2011 (Conducted in collaboration with Regional Centre of National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- SAARC Workshop on Participatory Forestry Trends, Governance and its contribution to Poverty Reduction in South Asia at IIFM (Bhopal), 25th – 27th of April 2011 (Conducted in collaboration with SAARC Forestry Centre, Thimphu).
- Workshop on Sloth Bear Conservation and Welfare at IIFM (Bhopal), 8th of March, 2011 (Conducted in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India).
- Consultancy project on ‘Feasibility Study of possibilities of Creation of Sustainable Livelihoods in Relocated and Forest Fringe Local Communities around the Protected Areas through promoting tree-based sericulture models in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh central states of India’; Team Member; Funded by the Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
- Consultancy project on ‘A Demographic Survey and Socio-Economic Study of the Project Affected People (PAP) and NON- PAP of New Kenda OCP, WEST Burdwan District (Consultancy)’; Team Member; Funded by the Eastern Coalfields Limited (2017-18).
- Consultancy project on ‘Impact Evaluation of NRLM Activities Undertaken by MPSRLM (Consultancy)’; Team Member; Funded by Madhya Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission (2016-17).
- Consultancy project on ‘Madhya Pradesh Climate Change Action Plan (Consultancy); Team Member’; Team Member; Funded by the Environmental Planning & Coordination Organization, Madhya Pradesh (2010-11).
Important Links
