Context:
District Level Committee approves Habitat Rights for Juangs of Keonjhar, a PVTG in Odisha
Habitat Rights:
- Introduced under – Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006
- Also known as – Forest Rights Act
- The Act defines ‘habitat’ as the ‘area comprising the customary habitat and such other habitats in reserved and protected forests of primitive tribal groups and pre-agricultural communities, and other forest dwelling STs’.
- These rights are accorded after a sequence of consultation with the community members, traditional leaders, women leaders, forest administration, etc.
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups:
- More vulnerable group among tribal groups in India.
- Criteria for identification of PVTGs –
- Pre-agricultural level of technology
- Low level of literacy
- Economic backwardness
- A declining or stagnant population
- Recommended by – Dhebar Commission
- Population – 75 tribes listed under PVTGs across 18 states and Union Territories
- State with largest population and highest number of PVTGs – Odisha (13 tribes)
- Largest PVTG – Saura community (Odisha) – 2011 Census
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India:
1. PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory.
2. A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status.
3. There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far.
4. Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4 only
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
There are only 75 PVTGs officially notified in the country.
