PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups)

The Dhebar Commission in 1973 identified Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs), now called Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), acknowledging their unique characteristics.They face multiple challenges including cultural assimilation, health risks, natural disasters, and unsustainable tourism. Government initiatives like PM JANMAN and Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra aim to uplift PVTGs through infrastructure, education, healthcare, and livelihood development. Steps to improve their situation include providing essential services while limiting outside contact, regulating tourism for sustainability, preventing forced contact, and addressing additional challenges like natural disasters and endemic diseases. These efforts aim to preserve PVTGs' autonomy, cultural heritage, and traditional way of life while integrating them into mainstream society with respect and consideration for their unique identities.

In 1973, the Dhebar Commission established a distinct category of indigenous peoples known as "Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs)," later renamed "Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG)." These groups are comparatively less developed than other tribals. The identification of tribal communities as PVTGs is carried out by the Central Ministry of Tribal Welfare, with proposals submitted by States/Union Territories to the Centre.

In 1975, the Indian Government, based on the Dhebar commission's recommendation, designated 52 tribal communities as PVTGs. Presently, out of 730 Scheduled Tribes, there are 75 recognized PVTGs. These groups are distributed across 18 states and one Union Territory as per the 2011 census. Odisha has the largest PVTG population, with 866,000 individuals.

PVTGs form 8.6% of the population. Key traits of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) include:

• A Small Homogeneous population
• Geographic isolation
• Traditional social structures
• Absence of a written language
• Dependence on gathering food, non-timber forest resources, hunting, livestock raising, and shifting cultivation etc for sustenance

Aspects which differentiate PVTGs from other Tribes: PVTG communities exhibit wide cultural diversity, with distinct practices and customs unique to each group based on the specific group and locality. There is a high level of social and economic inequality among PVTGs, reflecting disparities in access to resources and opportunities.

• Assimilation Efforts: Efforts to assimilate them into mainstream society in the name of “civilising them” have resulted in cultural disintegration and erosion.
• Health Risks:
  • PVTGs suffer from poor health conditions due to various factors including poverty, illiteracy, lack of safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation, challenging terrain, malnutrition, limited maternal and child health services, lack of healthcare access, superstitions, and deforestation.
  • Common diseases among PVTGs include anemia, upper respiratory problems, malaria, acute diarrhea, intestinal protozoan infections, micronutrient deficiencies, and skin infections
• Natural Disasters: Vulnerability to natural calamities such as cyclones and tsunamis, exacerbated by climate change impacts, poses significant threats.
• Impact of Tourism: Unsustainable tourism practices have disrupted their traditional way of life, leading to resource depletion and food insecurity due to habitat destruction and overexploitation of natural resources
• Declining Population: The population growth of PVTGs is stagnating or declining, especially in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands where the decline rate is particularly high compared to the general population growth
• Inaccurate Population Figures: Government does not have accurate figures about their total population. For instance , in last three months , the govt has arrived at three different estimates - 28 lacs in Nov 2023, 36.75 lacs in mid-Jan 2024 , and 44.64 lacs by Jan 2024.

• PM JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan), previously known as Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development Mission, is a significant initiative with a budget of Rs 24,000 crore aimed at uplifting Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
  • The project focuses on improving critical infrastructure such as power, water, roads, housing, education, and healthcare in remote villages inhabited by PVTG communities.
  • It entails the implementation of 11 interventions, including schemes like PM-Gram Sadak Yojana, PM-Gram Awaas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, and others, through the collaborative efforts of nine ministries.
• Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra: It focuses on reaching out to people, creating awareness and providing benefits of welfare schemes like sanitation facilities, essential financial services, electricity connections, access to LPG cylinders, housing for the poor, food security, proper nutrition, reliable healthcare, clean drinking water
• Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojna This initiative targets the transformation of villages with a significant tribal population, covering approximately 4.22 crore people, which is around 40% of the total tribal population. Its primary objective is to bridge developmental gaps in tribal villages.
• Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM): Managed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, PMJVM aims to support tribal communities by providing financial assistance for the procurement of Minor Forest Produces (MFPs) at Minimum Support Price (MSP). It also focuses on developing infrastructure for the MFP/non-MFP value chain and conducting value addition training programs through Van Dhan Vikas Kendras.
• Eklavya Model Residential Schools: Launched as a separate Central Sector Scheme in 2018, these schools aim to offer quality education to tribal students within their own surroundings. The scheme's goal is to expand the geographical coverage of Eklavya Model Residential Schools to every block with over 50% Scheduled Tribe (ST) population and at least 20,000 tribal individuals based on the Census 2011 data.

• Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary Organizations Working for Welfare of STs
• Venture Capital Funds for STs
• Pre-Matric Scholarship
• Post Matric Scholarship
• National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students
• National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) to the ST Students for Studies Abroad

• Provide Basic Services: While limiting outside contact, ensure access to essential healthcare and education for tribes integrating into mainstream society.
• Sustainable Tourism: Regulate tourism activities to ensure sustainability and minimize risks to tribal communities, especially avoiding activities like adventure sports and deep-sea diving that may increase outsider contact and endanger tribes.
• Prevent Forced Contact: Strengthen security measures to prevent forced contact by outsiders such as fishermen, tourists, or evangelicals, safeguarding the tribes' autonomy and well-being.
• Address Additional Challenges: Address issues such as natural disasters and endemic diseases to safeguard tribal communities' resilience and livelihoods.