Covid-19 in Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
Source : The Hindu
GS II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
Overview
- Key Facts
- PVTG Tribes in Odisha
- Scheme for PVTGs
Why in the News?
With the second wave of COVID-19 in the rural area of Odisha infections are being reported among the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
Key Facts
- 21 tribals across eight different PVTGs in the State have so far tested positive, including two from the Bonda tribe, Four from Dongria Kondh another PVTG.
- Bonda people live in highlands, 3,500feet above sea level, in Malkangiri, the southernmost district of Odisha.
- Bonda tribe, known for its secluded lifestyle.
- Concern for the spread among tribe
- It very tough to stop faster spread if virus makes further spread into tribal communities.
- Many tribals live in tiny huts, it makes transmission very difficult to contain and isolate.
- Measure Taken by Authority
- To keep tribal communities safer during the pandemic, the State government had earlier stopped weekly
markets where tribals come in contact with outside world.
- To keep tribal communities safer during the pandemic, the State government had earlier stopped weekly
PVTG Tribes in Odisha
- Odisha has among the largest and most diverse tribal populations in the country.
- Of the 62 tribal groups residing in Odisha, 13 are recognised as PVTGs.
- According to the 2011 Census, Odisha’s share of the country’s total tribal population was 9%.
- Tribals constitute 22.85% of State’s population.
- Stagnant or Diminishing populations
- Bonda, Birhor, Chuktia Bhunjia, Didayi, Dongaria Kandha, Hill Kharia, Juang, Kutia Kondh, Lanjia Saora, Lodha, Mankirdia, Paudi Bhuyan and Saora have been identification on the basis of stagnant or diminishing populations
- The reason is associated with pre-agricultural stages of hunting, food gathering and shifting cultivation, and relative physical isolation.
Scheme for PVTGs
- PVTG Empowerment and Livelihood Improvement.
- Scheme for Development of Primitive Vulnerable Tribal Groups
- India have Ministry of Tribal Affairs solely responsible for tribal related matters.
- PM Janjati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyaan (PM-JANMAN)
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal group
75 tribal groups have been categorized by Ministry of Home Affairs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG)s. PVTGs reside in 18 States and UT of A&N Islands. In India, tribal population makes up for 8.6% of the total population.
- Some tribal groups have some specific features such as
- Dependency on hunting.
- Gathering for food.
- Pre-agriculture level of technology.
- Zero or negative growth of population.
- Extremely low level of literacy.
- Identification Procedure : State governments or UT governments submit proposals to the Central Ministry of Tribal Welfare and after ensuring the criteria is fulfilled, the Central Ministry selects those groups as PVTGs.
- Government of India follows the following criteria for the identification of PVTGs
- Pre-agricultural level of technology
- Low level of literacy
- Economic backwardness
- A declining or stagnant population.
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