Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
What Are PVTGs? Why This Category?
“All STs are disadvantaged, but some among them are more vulnerable, more isolated, and less developed.”
To address their special challenges, the Government of India created a sub-category — Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
Earlier called Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs), they represent the most marginalised and least developed communities among the Scheduled Tribes.
Characteristics of PVTGs
To be classified as a PVTG, a tribe must meet all four criteria:
| Criterion | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 1. Pre-agricultural level of tech. | They rely on primitive tools and subsistence hunting/gathering or shifting cultivation. |
| 2. Low level of literacy | Literacy is significantly below national or even tribal averages. |
| 3. Economic backwardness | No access to markets or modern occupations; extreme poverty. |
| 4. Declining/stagnant population | Vulnerable due to shrinking or static population base. |
🧠 Key Point: It’s not just poverty — low resilience, cultural isolation, and fragile demography make these communities exceptionally vulnerable.
Numbers and Distribution
| Stat | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total PVTGs in India | 75 communities |
| Present in | 18 States + 1 UT (Andaman & Nicobar) |
| States with highest PVTGs | Odisha (13), Andhra Pradesh + Telangana (12), Bihar (9) |
So, while India has 700+ Scheduled Tribes, only 75 are recognised as PVTGs.
Latest Update (February 2024)
In February 2024, Parliament passed a Bill to specifically name 7 tribal groups as PVTGs — not new additions, but proper classification as synonyms, sub-tribes, or phonetic variations of existing recognised PVTGs.
✅ From Odisha:
- Pauri Bhuyan & Paudi Bhuyan → Synonyms of Bhuyan tribe
- Chuktia Bhunjia → Synonym of Bhunjia tribe
- Bondo → Sub-tribe of Bondo Poraja
- Mankidia → Synonym of Mankirdia tribe
✅ From Andhra Pradesh:
- Bondo Porja & Khond Porja → Synonyms of Porja tribe
- Konda Savaras → Synonym of Savaras tribe
🧠 Takeaway: Legal nomenclature clarity helps avoid administrative exclusions in welfare delivery.
Historical Background of PVTGs
| Year/Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1973 | Dhebar Commission (also called Tribal Panchsheel Committee) identifies Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) |
| 1975 | Central Government identifies first 52 PTGs |
| 1993 | 23 more PTGs added (total 75) |
| 2006 | PTG renamed as PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups) for better representation |
What Are Habitat Rights? Why Are They Important?
PVTGs don’t just need schemes; they need protection for their habitats, culture, and autonomy. That’s why Habitat Rights were introduced.
✅ Legal Backing:
These rights are given under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, officially called:
The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006
📌 Key Points About Habitat:
- “Habitat” = Customary territory + Culture + Livelihood + Biodiversity + Traditional Knowledge
- These rights do not grant private ownership, but protect the land from commercial exploitation.
How Is Habitat Declared?
The Government follows a structured method, based on MoTA 2014 Guidelines:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| Tribal leaders consulted | About cultural zone, traditional boundaries |
| Govt verification | Corroboration of historical & cultural claims |
| UNDP assistance | Technical support in mapping, documentation |
| 4 Departments coordinate | Forest, Revenue, Tribal, Panchayati Raj |
🧠 Idea: It’s a bottom-up recognition of territory — respecting tribal wisdom, not just using satellite maps.
Which PVTGs Have Been Granted Habitat Rights?
So far, only 3 PVTGs have officially received Habitat Rights:
| Tribe | State | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Bharia | Madhya Pradesh | 🥇 First PVTG to get habitat rights |
| Kamar | Chhattisgarh | — |
| Baiga | Chhattisgarh | — |
Why Habitat Rights Matter
| Benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
| ✅ Protects habitat from development | Gram Sabha consent is required before any mining, dam, or road project. |
| ✅ Livelihood protection | Ensures forest access for hunting, gathering, and minor forest produce. |
| ✅ Cultural preservation | Maintains tribal customs, rituals, language, and lifestyle. |
| ✅ Supports sustainable development | Uses local knowledge to conserve resources. |
| ✅ Legal protection | Under FRA, Forest Conservation Act, Land Acquisition Act (2013), and SC/ST Atrocities Act |
🧠 Insight: Habitat Rights help PVTGs assert collective rights, not just individual entitlements.
75 PVTGs in India – State/UT-wise Distribution
| State/UT | PVTGs Name |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh & Telangana (12) | 1. Bodo Gadaba 2. Bondo Poroja 3. Chenchu 4. Dongria Khond 5. Gutob Gadaba 6. Khond Poroja 7. Kolam 8. Kondareddis 9. Konda Savaras 10. Kutia Khond 11. Parengi Poroja 12. Thoti |
| Bihar & Jharkhand (9) | 13. Asurs 14. Birhor 15. Birjia 16. Hill Kharia 17. Korwas 18. Mal Paharia 19. Paharia 20. Sauda Paharia 21. Savar |
| Gujarat (5) | 22. Kathodi 23. Kohvalia 24. Padar 25. Siddi 26. Kolgha |
| Karnataka (2) | 27. Jenu Kuruba 28. Koraga |
| Kerala (5) | 29. Cholanaikayan 30. Kadar 31. Kattunayakan 32. Kurumbas 33. Koraga |
| Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh (8) | 34. Abujh Marias 35. Baigas 36. Bharias 37. Hill Korbas 38. Kamars 39. Saharias 40. Birhor |
| Maharashtra (3) | 41. Katkaria (Kathodia) 42. Kolam 43. Maria Gond |
| Manipur (1) | 44. Maram Nagas |
| Odisha (13) | 45. Birhor 46. Bondo 47. Didayi 48. Dongria Khond 49. Juangs 50. Kharias 51. Kutia Khond 52. Lanjia Sauras 53. Lodhas 54. Mankidias 55. Paudi Bhuyans 56. Soura 57. Chuktia Bhunjia |
| Rajasthan (1) | 58. Saharias |
| Tamil Nadu (6) | 59. Kattu Nayakans 60. Kotas 61. Kurumbas 62. Irulas 63. Paniyans 64. Todas |
| Tripura (1) | 65. Reangs |
| Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand (2) | 66. Buxas 67. Rajis |
| West Bengal (3) | 68. Birhor 69. Lodhas 70. Totos |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands (5) | 71. Great Andamanese 72. Jarawas 73. Onges 74. Sentinelese 75. Shompens |
🧩 Conclusion: Why PVTGs Deserve Special Attention
PVTGs are India’s most vulnerable tribes, facing triple marginalization — economically, culturally, and demographically. Their constitutional protection, along with habitat rights, is not just about welfare — it is about justice, dignity, and sustainability.
