Tribal Affairs Ministry Seeks Separate Census Enumeration for PVTGs

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has written to the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGI), requesting that Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) be enumerated separately in the upcoming Census.

Who Are PVTGs?

PVTGs are a sub-category of Scheduled Tribes (STs) characterized by:

• Declining or stagnant population
• Geographical isolation
• Pre-agrarian practices (hunting and gathering)
• Economic backwardness
• Low literacy levels

The category was created on the recommendations of the Dhebar Commission (1960–61), which noted disparities among tribal groups and identified some as more vulnerable than others.

Historical Background

• During the Fifth Five-Year Plan (1974–79), 52 groups were identified as Primitive Tribal Groups (later renamed PVTGs).
• In 2006, 23 more groups were added, bringing the total to 75 PVTGs.
• These groups are spread across 18 states and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Census and Constitutional Recognition

As per MoTA’s statement in 2016, 40 out of 75 PVTGs are listed as single entry in the notified list of STs under Article 342 of the Constitution.

PM JANMAN Scheme for PVTGs

In November 2023, the government launched the ₹24,104 crore PM JANMAN scheme, aimed at improving the socio-economic status, health, education, livelihoods, and amenities of PVTGs in more than 200 districts. To implement the scheme, habitation-level surveys were conducted to identify infrastructure gaps and estimate PVTG populations.

Population Estimates

The survey found an estimated 47.5 lakh PVTGs across India.

• Madhya Pradesh: 13.22 lakh (highest)
• Maharashtra: 6.7 lakh
• Andhra Pradesh: 5.18 lakh