PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TRIBAL GROUPS (PVTGS)

Social Issues Tribes and Races

The Central government is planning to reimpose Restricted Area Permit (RAP) in the North Sentinel island where an American was killed by members of the Sentinelese tribe which are categorised as PVTG.

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups :

Tribal communities are often identified by some specific signs such as primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness to contact with the community at large and backwardness. Along with these, some tribal groups have some specific features- A pre-agriculture level of technology. A stagnant or declining population. Extremely low literacy. A subsistence level of economy.

These groups are called Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

According to a recent Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) study ‘PVTGs - Privileges and Predicaments’-

The highest number of PVTGs are found in Odisha (13) followed by Andhra Pradesh (12). All the four tribal groups in Andaman and one in Nicobar Islands are PVTGs. There are regional and State-specific variations in welfare schemes for PVTGs –While Odisha has exclusive micro-projects for the PVTGs, there are none such for the PVTGs in Gujarat.Sometimes micro projects extend only to some blocks of district and not in others. There is a huge variation in population of PVTGs –Senteneles (Andaman) have the smallest population.In the mainland, Toto of West Bengal and Toda of Tamil Nadu have less than 2000 persons. Saharia of MP and Rajasthan are the largest with population more than 4 lakhs. Literacy rate has gone up from single digit to 30 to 40 % in some PVTGs. Female literacy rate is still considerably lower compared to male counterpart. There has been a considerable increase in the age of marriage among PVTGs with girl child marriage decreasing significantly.

The need for identification :

PVTGs are more vulnerable among the tribal groups. Due to this factor, more developed and assertive tribal groupstake a major chunk of the tribal development funds, because of which PVTGs need more funds directed for their development. In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category, who are less developed among the tribal groups. In 2006, the Government of India renamed the PTGs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). 75 such groups of tribals in 18 States and 1 Union Territory have been identified.

Problems of PVTGs :

Social conditions and declining population: The level of inequalities in social and economic conditions is very high amongst PVTGs. Their problems are also very different from group to group. The growth of PVTGs' population is either stagnating or declining, compared to the general population growth, particularly in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands where the declining rate is very high. Livelihoods: PVTGs depend on various livelihoods such as food gathering, Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP), hunting, livestock rearing, shifting cultivation and artisan works. Most of their livelihoods depend on the forest. But due to the shrinking forests, environmental changes and new forest conservation policies, their NTFP collection is getting hampered. Because of the lack of awareness about the value of NTFP produce, PVTGs have been exploited by the middlemen. Health and Education conditions :The health status of PVTGs is in an awful condition because of multiple factors like poverty, illiteracy, lack of safe drinking water, bad sanitary conditions, difficult terrain, malnutrition, poor maternal and child health services, unavailability of health and nutritional services, superstition and deforestation. The diseases like anaemia, upper respiratory problem, malaria; gastro-intestinal disorders like acute diarrhoea, Intestinal protozoan; micronutrient deficiency and skin infection diseases are common among PVTGs. The condition of education is also very poor, with an average literacy rate of 10% to 44% in PVTGs.

Scheme for the Development of PVTGs:

In 1998-99, a separate 100% Central Sector Scheme for exclusive development of PVTGs was started. The scheme has been revised in 2015, to make it more effective. The scheme covers only the 75 identified PVTGs. The projects taken up under this scheme are demand driven. The scheme is very flexible and it enables every State to focus on any developmental activity for PVTGs, viz., housing, land distribution, land development, agricultural growth, cattle development, connectivity, installation of non-conventional sources of energy for lighting purpose, social security or any other innovative activity meant for the comprehensive socio-economic development of PVTGs. The funds under this scheme are made available for those items / activities which are very crucial for the survival, protection and development of PVTGs and are not specifically catered to by any other scheme of State or Central Government or by guidelines governing the utilization of funds under Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme and Grants-in-Aid under Article 275(1) of the Constitution. Implementation of the Scheme: The Conservation-Cum-Development (CCD) Plans are to be prepared by the State Governments and Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands for five years by adopting habitat development approach. Implementing Agency: The scheme is implemented in accordance with CCD / Annual Plans prepared by the State / UT through various agencies of the State Government / UT Administration like Integrated Tribal Development Projects (ITDPs) / Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) and Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs). Monitoring Mechanism: The implementation of the Scheme is required to be monitored by the officials of the Ministry and / or such independent agencies as may be appointed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs from time to time for the purpose.

छोटे Courses बड़े Results

Master Tribes and Races

Prepare through Micro-courses