NAC Recommendations for PVTGs (2013)

National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by Smt. Sonia Gandhi in 2013 came up with specific recommendations for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). The primary objective of the study was to assess the conditions of PVTGs and recommend measures to protect their livelihoods.

  • The study noted there are 75 PVTGs spread across 14 states and 1 UT. Some important recommendations for their welfare as per the study include,
    • Giving Schedule Tribes (STs) status to all PVTGs.
    • Access to legal rights under Forests Rights Act, 2006.
    • Social audits of developmental programs aimed for their welfare.
    • Special census to ascertain their numbers. As per 2001 census, PVTGs population was 2.77 million.
    • A rights-based approach to ensure their empowerment and elimination of discrimination.
    • Habitat approach to develop livelihood strategies, etc.
  • The recommendations of the council are awaiting consideration due to change in guard at the centre.

Who are PVTGs?

  • Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups are sub-section amongst Tribal communities who are often identified by some specific signs such as dependency on hunting, gathering for food, having pre-agriculture level of technology, zero or negative growth of population and extremely low level of literacy alongwith other traditional tribal characteristics like primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, etc.
  • Prominent examples include Shompens, Jarawas and Sentinelese of the Andaman and Nicobar Island; Bondas of Odisha; the Cholanaickans of Kerala; the Abujhmarias of Chhattisgarh; and the Birhors of Jharkhand.

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