Inclusion of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in the Census
On July 17, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) reached out to the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGI) to propose the inclusion of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in the upcoming Census. This request aims to enumerate PVTGs separately for the first time, highlighting their cultural, demographic, and socio-economic features.
Background and Initiatives
- Current Status:
- 75 PVT groups exist across 18 states and one Union Territory.
- Previously, in the 2011 Census, 40 PVT groups were included within the broader category of Scheduled Tribes (STs).
- Historical Context:
- The PVTGs entered political discourse following the Dhebar Commission's report in 1961, which identified inequalities within tribal groups.
- The category Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) was created in 1973 based on:
- Pre-agricultural level of technology
- Low literacy levels
- Economic backwardness
- Declining or stagnant population
- In 2006, the term was revised to PVTG to eliminate the negative connotation of "primitive".
Significance of the Initiative
- Socio-Economic Benefits: The separate enumeration aims to facilitate targeted policies for upliftment and redressal of PVTGs.
- Health and Literacy Concerns: Recent studies, particularly in Odisha, have shown precarious health indices and the lowest female literacy rate among PVTGs.
- Government Initiatives: The Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) was launched in 2023 to provide basic facilities to PVTGs.
Future Considerations
- Updating Criteria: There is a need to rethink the definition of PVTG as current criteria may exclude some communities, given the evolving ground realities.
- Technology Advancements: Modernization has changed the use of “pre-agricultural level technology," equipping marginalized communities with more developed tools.
- Social Inclusion: A significant focus is required on both identifying and addressing the needs of PVTGs to enhance social inclusion rather than assimilation.