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Context

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) wrote to the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGI) to enumerate particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) separately in the upcoming Census.

Who Are PVTGs?

PVTGs are a sub-category of Scheduled Tribes (STs) identified as the most marginalized due to:

• Pre-agricultural technology: Reliance on hunting, gathering, and shifting cultivation.
• Stagnant or declining population: For example, the Sentinelese in Andaman & Nicobar Islands have only 15 individuals (Census 2011).
• Low literacy rates: Far below national averages, especially among women.
• Subsistence economy: Limited integration into mainstream markets.
• Geographical isolation: Residing in remote areas with poor infrastructure.
• Economic backwardness: High poverty levels and dependence on natural resources.

The Dhebar Commission (1960-61) recommended this classification, initially identifying 52 Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) in 1975, expanded to 75 PVTGs in 1993, and renamed to PVTGs in 2006.

Odisha hosts the highest number of PVTGs (13 groups), followed by Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Constitutional and Legal Protections for PVTGs

Constitutional Provisions

Article 16(4): Reservations in government jobs for backward classes, including STs, to enhance representation.

Article 16(4A): Allows promotion quotas for SC/STs if underrepresented.

Article 15(4): Permits special provisions for educational advancement of STs.

Article 21: Guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, protecting PVTGs from exploitation.

Article 29(1): Ensures the right to preserve distinct language and culture.

Article 46: States to promote STs’ educational and economic interests and protect them from social injustice.

Article 275: Provides grants for tribal welfare in Fifth and Sixth Schedule states.

Fifth Schedule: Governs administration of scheduled areas in 10 states (e.g., Odisha, Madhya Pradesh), empowering Tribal Advisory Councils and protecting land/forest rights.

Sixth Schedule: Facilitates autonomous governance in tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram through Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) with legislative powers over land, water, and health.

Article 244A: Allows creation of an autonomous state within Assam, added by the 22nd Amendment (1969).

Key Legislation

Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA): Empowers tribal communities in Fifth Schedule areas to govern themselves and manage natural resources.

• Recognizes traditional rights, enabling local bodies to address issues like land alienation.
• Enhances autonomy but faces implementation challenges due to bureaucratic resistance and lack of awareness.

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: Protects STs from hate crimes and discrimination through special courts and stringent penalties.

• Reduces atrocities but requires better enforcement to address rising crimes (source: NCRB, 2023).

Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA): Grants PVTGs rights to use, manage, and conserve forest resources, correcting colonial-era deprivations.

Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024: Adds tribes like Bondo Porja, Khond Porja in Andhra Pradesh to the ST list, ensuring access to reservations and welfare schemes.

Socio-Economic Challenges of PVTGs

Health and Nutrition: High rates of malnutrition, communicable diseases (e.g., tuberculosis among Saharias in Madhya Pradesh), and genetic disorders like sickle cell anemia. Limited healthcare access exacerbates these issues.

Education: Literacy rates are low, especially among women.

Livelihood: Deforestation and displacement from development projects disrupt traditional food sources, causing food insecurity (e.g., Baigas in Chhattisgarh).

Reproductive Health: Lack of access to contraceptives and safe maternal care leads to high mortality rates.

Discrimination: Social exclusion and humiliation cause psychological trauma, worsened by inadequate rehabilitation post-displacement.

Importance of Separate Census Enumeration

Enabling Targeted Policies: Precise data will guide schemes like PM JANMAN.

Improving Resource Allocation: Ensures funds reach the most marginalized, unlike broader ST-focused schemes.

Preserving Culture: Captures unique demographic and cultural data to protect PVTG heritage.

Monitoring Progress: Provides baseline data to evaluate welfare programs.

Challenges: Logistical issues in remote areas, risk of stigmatization, and outdated criteria like geographical isolation need addressing.

Government Schemes for PVTGs

PM JANMAN (Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan): Focusing on housing, roads, health, education, and livelihoods. Involves 11 interventions across 9 ministries, including Jal Jeevan Mission and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission: Awareness, universal screening of 7 crore people (0-40 years) in affected tribal areas, and counseling.

Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): Provide quality education to tribal students. A 5% reservation in admission is reserved for PVTG students in every EMRS.

Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojna (PMAAGY): Transform villages with a significant tribal population into "Adarsh Grams" (model villages).

Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM): Focuses on livelihood-driven tribal development, promoting Minor Forest Produce (MFP) procurement at Minimum Support Price, and establishing Van Dhan Vikas Kendras.

Way Forward 

Strengthen Implementation of Existing Laws: Establish dedicated task forces at the state level to monitor the execution of laws like the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, and PESA, 1996.

Conduct Pilot Projects for Census EnumerationAction: Launch pilot surveys in select PVTG-dominated areas (e.g., Odisha, Madhya Pradesh) to test methodologies for separate enumeration in the upcoming Census. Use AI, GIS mapping and mobile apps for accurate data collection.

Enhance Awareness Campaigns: Organize community-based awareness programs using local languages, skits, and videos to educate PVTGs about their rights under FRA, PESA, and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

Update PVTG Identification Criteria: Form an expert committee, including anthropologists and tribal representatives, to revisit the Dhebar Commission (1960-61) criteria for PVTG classification.

Address Health and Nutrition GapsAction: Expand Mobile Medical Units under PM JANMAN to cover all PVTG villages and deploy trained healthcare workers familiar with tribal cultures.

Promote Sustainable Livelihoods: Scale up Van Dhan Vikas Kendras and Minimum Support Price schemes for Minor Forest Produce under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM). Provide skill training in modern agriculture and eco-tourism.

Ensure Gender-Inclusive Policies: Amend biased laws like Section 2(2) of the Hindu Succession Act to grant tribal women equal property rights. Promote women’s participation in Tribal Advisory Councils and ADCs.

Integrate Technology for Monitoring: Develop a centralized digital platform to track the progress of PVTG welfare schemes, integrating data from PM JANMAN, EMRS, and PMAAGY.  

Protect Cultural HeritageAction: Document PVTG languages, traditions, and knowledge systems through partnerships with the Anthropological Survey of India.

Strengthen Community Participation: Involve PVTG leaders in policy design and implementation through regular consultations and representation in decision-making bodies.

Conclusion

PVTGs, with their unique cultural heritage and extreme vulnerabilities, require focused interventions to integrate into India’s developmental framework. Separate census enumeration, if executed with transparency and community involvement, can unlock precise data to drive impactful policies, ensuring PVTGs’ rights, dignity, and socio-economic upliftment.

Source: INDIAN EXPRESS