Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups

Particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) are the marginalized section of the Scheduled tribes of India. They are relatively isolated, educationally and socio-economically backwards, living in a habitat far away from amenities.

PVTG is not a Constitutional category, nor are these constitutionally recognized communities.
It is a government of India classification created with the purpose of enabling improvement in the conditions of certain communities with particularly low development

A separate category of PVTGs was constituted based on the recommendations of the Dhebar Commission in 1975.
PVTGs are identified by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs based on the recommendations from the state governments or Union territories.
The highest numbers of PVTGs are found in Odisha.

Criteria for identifying PVTGs

The criteria followed for determination of PVTGs are as follows.

A pre-agriculture level of technology;
A stagnant or declining population;
Extremely low literacy; and
A subsistence level of the economy.

After ensuring the criteria is fulfilled, the Central Ministry selects those groups as PVTGs.

History

In accordance to the provisions conferred in the Clause (1) of Article 342 of the Constitution of India, the notification of STs is state-specific and their identification is done on the basis of the following characteristics- a) Primitive Traits (b) Distinctive Culture (c) Geographical Isolation (d) Shyness with contact with the community at large, and Backwardness. However, Dhebar Commission (1960-61) and other studies suggested that there exists inequality amongst tribal communities in terms of their development. In 1975, based on the Dhebar Commission report, the government created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category and identified 52 such groups. In 1993, 23 more groups were added making it 75 PTGs.In 2006, the Government of India renamed the PTGs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

Statistical overview

Among the 75 listed PVTG’s the highest number are found in Odisha (13), followed by Andhra Pradesh (12), Bihar including Jharkhand (9) Madhya Pradesh including Chhattisgarh (7) Tamil Nadu (6) Kerala and Gujarat having five groups each.
The remaining PVTGs live in West Bengal (3) Maharashtra (3), two each in Karnataka and Uttarakhand and one each in Rajasthan, Tripura and Manipur.
All the four tribal groups in Andaman and one in the Nicobar Islands are recognised as PVTGs
The Saharia people of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are the largest among the PVTGs with the population more than 4 lakhs.
Smallest population size among the PVTGs are the Sentinelese (as per the last contact effort on March 9, 2005, groups of 32 and 13 persons were sighted at different places).

Legislative view

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA) has a special section regarding the 75 PVGTs and the Act recognises forest and habitat rights of PVTGs.
The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA): It extends Scheduled Areas of India under the purview of the national framework of Panchayat. However, this act is not applicable to Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram and certain other areas including scheduled and tribal areas.
The Sentinelese and other aboriginal tribes of the Andaman& Nicobar Islands are protected under The Andaman and Nicobar (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956
Under the Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order, 1963, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are a “Restricted Area” in which foreigners with a restricted area permit (RAP) can stay.
The habitats of the PVTGs of Andaman and Nicobar Island has protected Tribal Reserveunder the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956

In August 2018, in a bid to promote tourism and encourage investment, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decided to exclude 30 islands from Andaman and Nicobar from the RAP or Restricted Area Permit regime notified under the Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order, 1963. North Sentinelese island was among the 30 islands
According to critics, the removal of RAP from North Sentinel Island sent an extremely dangerous message that the island was now open for visitors. Further, it has also put uncontacted Sentinelese tribe at the risk of contracting diseases.

Scheme for development of PVTG

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing a scheme namely “Development of PVTGs” which covers the 75 identified PVTGs among Scheduled Tribes in 18 States/ UT of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

It is a flexible scheme and covers funding for activities like housing, land distribution, land development, agricultural development, animal husbandry, construction of link roads, installation of non-conventional sources of energy for lighting purpose, social security including Janshree Beema Yojana or any other innovative activity meant for the comprehensive socio-economic development of PVTGs.

Priority is also assigned to PVTGs under the schemes of Special Central Assistance (SCA) to Tribal Sub-Scheme(TSS), Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution, Grants-in-aid to Voluntary Organisations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes and Strengthening of Education among ST Girls in Low Literacy Districts.

Challenges faced by PVTGs

Incoherency in identification: The process of identification of PVTG adopted by the states differs in its methods. The spirit of the direction made by MoTA was loosely considered. As a result, there has been no uniform principle adopted in identifying the PVTGs.
Outdated List: The Anthropological Survey of India observes that the list of PVTG is overlapping and repetitive. For example, the list contains synonyms of the same group such as the Mankidia and the Birhor in Odisha, both of which refer to the same group.
Lack of baseline surveys: The Anthropological Survey of India observed 75 PVTGs, baseline surveys exists for about 40 groups, even after declaring them as PVTGs. Lack of baseline surveys hinder effective implementation of welfare schemes
Unequal Benefits from welfare schemes: In some cases, a PVTG receives benefits only in a few blocks in a district, while the same group is deprived in adjacent blocks. For example, the Lanjia Saora is recognized as a PVTG across Odisha but the micro-projects are established only in two blocks. The rest of the Lanjia Saora are treated among the Scheduled Tribes (STs) and do not receive benefit from these projects.
Impact of developmental projects: In 2002, a Standing Committee formed by the MoTA to review the ‘Development of Primitive Tribal Groups,’ shared that the tribal people, especially PVTGs, are worst affected by developmental projects like dams, industries and mines.
Denial of land rights: PVTGs have faced systematic alienation from their resources due to conservation purposes-declaration of Reserved Forests and Protected Forests.For example: In 2009, 245 Baiga families were forced out from the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, when it was notified so under the Project Tiger

Further, despite the Forest Rights Act (2006) in place, habitat rights of PVTGs are still being forfeited in many instances. For Example, Mankidia community of Odisha are denied habitat rights in Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) by the state’s forest department

Livelihood issues: Dueto shrinking forests, environmental changes and forest conservation policies, their Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) collection is affected. They lack awareness about the market value of NTFP and are exploited by middlemen.

Health Issues: PVTGs suffer from many health problems like anaemia, malaria; gastro-intestinal disorders; micronutrient deficiency and skin diseases due to poverty, lack of safe drinking water, bad sanitation, lack of health services, superstition and deforestation

An uncontacted tribal group such as the Sentinelese tribe of Andaman are also at the very high risk of contracting diseases in case of contact with outsiders

Illiteracy: Though the literacy rate among many PVTGs has increased over the past years, it still remains low at 30-40%. Further, poor female literacy is a major concern
Vulnerabilities of tribes in Andaman and Nicobar: The fragile tribal communities have been facing expropriation of their ecosystem by outsiders. The outside influences are impacting their land-use patterns, use of the sea, overall biodiversity leading to material and non-material changes.

Way forward

Protect Cultural Heritage

Extensive efforts must be made to ensure that their customs, languages, religious practices etc. are not lost as a result of outside influence.
The ANTRI (Andaman and Nicobar Tribal Research and Training Institute) has been set up with an objective of formulation of policies for tribal integration and protection of PVTGs

Prevent Forced contact

It is important that security apparatus is stepped up and the region is properly policed and protected from any outsiders – fishermen, tourists or evangelicals.
The A&N (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956 provides protection to the aboriginal tribes by declaring their traditional areas as reserves and prohibited entry of all persons except those with authorisation.
With regard to Sentinelese tribes, the A&N Administration has adopted an ‘eyes-on and hands-off’ policy to ensure that no poachers enter into the island.

Provide Basic Social Services

Health Services, Basic education, etc. must be provided to the tribes that are being assimilated in the mainstream. Specific issues like natural disasters, endemic diseases such as anaemia, etc. must also be attended to.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the “Development of PVTGs” scheme which covers the 75 identified PVTGs among Scheduled Tribes in various states/UTs.

Promote sustainable economic activities

Development of cottage industries, plantations crops (e.g. coconut), fishing, animal husbandry etc. are some viable economic options given the fact that there is not much scope for agriculture.
Sustainable tourism activities like adventure sports, deep-sea diving, etc can be promoted without putting the tribes at danger from outsider contact.

Tackling ecological Issues such afforestation, coral bleaching, sewage discharge, etc should also be of high priority.