Recently Prime Minister of India launched a Rs 24,000-crore project for vulnerable tribal groups on the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda.
Under ‘PM Janman’, the government will reach out to tribal groups and primitive tribes most of whom still dwell in the forests.
The government has identified 75 such tribal communities and primitive tribes who reside in more than 22,000 villages in the country.
It aims to protect the tribes on the verge of extinction and nurture them.
The Centre will spend Rs 24,000 crore on this mega scheme.
Earlier in Budget 2023, PM PVTG Mission was announced to improve the socio-economic conditions of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
Mission based on providing basic amenities like safe housing, clean drinking water, education, health, road and sustainable livelihood etc.
Other initiatives launched on birth anniversary of Birsa Munda (Janjatiya Gaurav Divas) 2023:
Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra:
A nationwide programme to reach out to all villages and include those eligible for various central schemes.
What are Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups?
Government of India follows the following criteria for identifiaction of PVTGs.
1 . Pre-agricultural level of technology
2 . Low level of literacy
3 . Economic backwardness
4 . A declining or stagnant population.
PVTGs are more vulnerable among the tribal groups. Due to this factor, more developed and assertive tribal groups take a major chunk of the tribal development funds, because of which PVTGs need more funds directed for their development.
How many Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups have been recognised so far?
In 1975, the Government of India initiated to identify the most vulnerable tribal groups as a separate category called PVTGs and declared 52 such groups, while in 1993 an additional 23 groups were added to the category, making it a total of 75 PVTGs out of 705 Scheduled Tribes, spread over 17 states and one Union Territory (UT), in the country (2011 census).
PVTGs were recognised as a separate category based on the findings of the 1961 Dhebar Commission.
Which state has the largest population of PVTGs?
Odisha has the largest population of PVTGs at 8.66 lakh, followed by MP at 6.09 lakh and Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana) at 5.39 lakh. The total PVTG population is more than 40 lakh and the largest PVTG is Odisha’s Saura community, numbering 5.35 lakh.
Initiatives Empowering Tribal Communities
Eklavya Model Residential Schools:
Provide free education to ST children from class VI to XII in residential set up.
Pradhan Mantri Vanbandhu Vikas Yojana:
A venture capital fund has been set up to promote entrepreneurship/start-up projects by ST youth.
Adivasi Grants Management System (ADIGRAMS):
It monitors the physical and financial progress of the grants given by the Ministry to States and can track the actual utilisation of funds.
Tribal Research Information, Education, Communication and Events (TRU-ECE) Scheme:
Under this, financial assistance is provided to reputed Institutions for TRU-ECE scheme with the aim to promote tribal culture, artifacts, customs and traditions of tribal communities.
Promotion of Tribal Languages:
The government also provides grants to State Tribal Research Institutes for the promotion of tribal languages, the development of bilingual primers for the preservation of tribal languages and the promotion of tribal literature.
Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs):
The Government of India has established seven ZCCs which are responsible for organising a wide range of cultural activities and programs across the nation on a regular basis, which will help in conserving tribal languages and culture across the country as well.
PM Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana:
Transforming villages with significant tribal population into model village (Adarsh Gram) covering about population of 4.22 crore (About 40% of the total Tribal Population).
