In News:

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has requested the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGI) to enumerate Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) separately in the upcoming Census.
• Aim: To capture population, households, and distinctive socio-economic and cultural features of PVTGs for better targeting of schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi NyayMaha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN).

About PVTGs

• Definition: A sub-category of Scheduled Tribes (STs), considered the most disadvantaged among tribal communities.
• Origin: Concept recommended by the Dhebar Commission (1960–61) to address disparity within STs.
• Criteria for Identification:
  • Declining/stagnant population
  • Geographical isolation
  • Pre-agrarian economy (hunting, gathering, shifting cultivation)
  • Economic backwardness
  • Low literacy
• Numbers:
  • Initially 52 groups identified during the Fifth Five-Year Plan (1974–79).
  • Later, 23 more groups added in 2006 → 75 PVTGs today.
• Spread: Across 18 states and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Demographic Profile

• Estimated Population (2023 Survey): ~47.5 lakh PVTGs in India.
  • Madhya Pradesh – 13.22 lakh (highest)
  • Maharashtra – 6.7 lakh
  • Andhra Pradesh – 5.18 lakh
• Smallest Groups: Sentinelese (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) with just 15 individuals.
• Largest Group: Baiga (Madhya Pradesh) – ~4.14 lakh population.

Habitat & Livelihoods

• Mostly live in remote forests, hilly regions, or islands with limited access to infrastructure.
• Livelihood sources:
  • Hunting and gathering
  • Shifting cultivation
  • Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) collection
  • Livestock rearing
  • Traditional artisan work

Cultural & Social Features

• Distinct cultural identities, practices, and languages.
• Often outside mainstream socio-economic and political processes.
• Many face critical health and education deficits.

Need for Separate Enumeration

• No separate count so far: PVTGs only enumerated under the general ST category; many grouped together under one nomenclature.
• Single-entry STs: Out of 75 PVTGs, 40 explicitly listed under Article 342 of the Constitution.
• Challenges: Current lists vary across states; some groups not separately listed in Census.
• Benefits of separate enumeration:
  • Accurate population data for targeted schemes.
  • Helps assess whether PVTG classification criteria remain relevant.
  • Supports preservation of cultural identity.
  • Identifies infrastructure gaps in health, education, and livelihoods.

Welfare Measures

• PM JANMAN Scheme (2023):
  • Budget: ?24,104 crore.
  • Coverage: More than 200 districts.
  • Objective: Improve health, education, livelihoods, and basic amenities of PVTGs.