Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has urged for a separate Census enumeration for the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

What are Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)?

• PVTGs (previously known as a Primitive Tribal Group) are a sub-classification of Scheduled Tribes considered more vulnerable among the tribal groups.
• Dhebar Commission (or Tribal Panchsheel Committee) recommended the creation of Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs). Based on this, the Indian Government created PTGs in 1975. In 2006, PTGs were renamed as PVTGs.
• At present, there are 75 PVTGs out of 705 Scheduled Tribes residing in 18 states and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • Recent estimates indicate the PVTGs population to be 45.56 lakh.
  • Largest populations: Madhya Pradesh (12.28L), Maharashtra (6.2L), Andhra Pradesh (4.9L).

Criteria for Identification of PVTGs

1. Pre-agricultural level of technology
2. Low level of literacy
3. Economic backwardness
4. Declining or Stagnant population

Habitat Rights of PVTGs

• Habitat rights are given to PVTGs under Section 3(1) (e) of The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 or Forest Rights Act (FRA).
• Ten PVTGs have been granted habitat rights in three states (Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh).
• Habitat rights recognition grants communities the right to their traditional territory, socio-cultural practices, livelihoods, ecological and traditional knowledge, and the protection of their natural and cultural heritage. (Habitat rights don’t grant ownership to property).

Schemes for PVTGs

Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN)

• Objective: To uplift the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), along with 9 Ministries.
• The scheme focuses on 11 critical interventions:
  1. Housing
  2. Drinking water and sanitation: Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G)
  3. Education
  4. Health and nutrition
  5. Road connectivity
  6. Telecom connectivity
  7. Livelihood opportunities
  8. Land rights
  9. Social security
  10. Cultural preservation
  11. Institutional support

PM-PVTG Development Mission

• PM-PVTGs aims to improve the socio-economic conditions of the particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) by saturating PVTG families and habitations with basic facilities such as:
  • Safe housing
  • Clean drinking water and sanitation
  • Improved access to education
  • Health and nutrition
  • Road and telecom connectivity
  • Sustainable livelihood opportunities
• Under the scheme, several ministries will collaborate to implement development projects. The schemes include Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana, and Jal Jeevan Mission, among others.
• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) is the nodal ministry for overall policy planning and coordination of programs for the development of STs.