News– The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has asked the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGI) to count Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) separately in the upcoming Census. It wants details on their households, population, and socio-economic conditions.
The Ministry says such data is crucial to ensure that schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) reach the most vulnerable communities effectively.
About Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
PVTGs are the most marginalised among Scheduled Tribes (STs). They are marked by:
- Declining or stagnant population
- Geographical isolation
- Pre-agrarian level of technology (hunting, gathering, shifting cultivation)
- Economic backwardness
- Very low literacy levels
This category was created after the Dhebar Commission (1960–61) pointed out that some tribal communities were far more vulnerable than others and required special attention.
How were they identified?
- During the Fifth Five-Year Plan (1974–79), 52 groups were recognised as Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs).
- In 2006, 23 more were added, bringing the total to 75 PVTGs.
- Today, these groups are spread across 18 States and 1 Union Territory (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
Have PVTGs ever been counted separately?
- No. PVTGs have never been enumerated separately in any Census.
- They are usually merged under the broader Scheduled Tribe category.
- Out of 75 PVTGs, 40 are listed as ‘single entry’ tribes under Article 342 of the Constitution, meaning they are explicitly recognised in the notified ST list.
- In the 2011 Census, the Baigas of Madhya Pradesh were counted separately, but groups like Abujh Marias, Bharias, Hill Korbas, and Kamars were not. In 2013, Abujh Maria and Hill Korba were formally added to Chhattisgarh’s ST list through legislation.
- By practice, the Registrar General of India (RGI) only publishes data for main STs, with sub-groups automatically included. This has prevented separate and focused data collection on PVTGs so far.
Why Separate Enumeration now?
1. For targeted welfare
- The PM JANMAN scheme (2023), with an allocation of Rs. 24,104 crore, aims to improve housing, health, education, and livelihoods for PVTGs in more than 200 districts.
- Without precise numbers, it becomes difficult to ensure that benefits actually reach the intended communities.
2. For reliable population estimates
- A Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) 2023 survey estimated the total PVTG population at 47.5 lakh.
- Madhya Pradesh: 13.22 lakh (highest)
- Maharashtra: 6.7 lakh
- Andhra Pradesh: 5.18 lakh
- Many groups are extremely small:
- Sentinelese (Andaman & Nicobar Islands): barely 15 individuals
- Jarawas, Onges, Shompens, Raji, Kota, Birhor, Kamar, Korwa, Parhaiya, etc.: less than 1,000 each.
3. To address policy gaps
- Current schemes in health, education, and livelihoods are difficult to monitor without disaggregated data.
- Fresh enumeration would also help determine whether the existing classification of PVTGs still holds true, as some groups may have progressed while others remain trapped in vulnerability.
