Context: 

With the 2021 Census indefinitely delayed, the government’s attempt to estimate the total population of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) across the country is hitting one wall after another.

Background:

The information on population is crucial to the implementation of the government’s ₹24,000 crore PM-JANMAN package for PVTGs.

About PM JANMAN:

1. In line with the vision of Antyodaya to empower the last person at the last mile, PM-JANMAN was launched for the socio-economic welfare of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) on 15th November 2023.
2. PM-JANMAN focuses on 11 critical interventions through 9 Ministries aimed to improve socio-economic conditions of the PVTGs by saturating PVTG households and habitations with basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water and sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition, electricity, road and telecom connectivity, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

About PVTG:

1. Sub-classification of Scheduled Tribe, who are most vulnerable in certain parameter than other Scheduled Tribe community.
2. In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category, who are less developed among the tribal groups. In 2006, the Government of India renamed the PTGs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
3. The Government of India follows the following criteria for identification of PVTGs:

• Pre-agricultural level of technology
• Low level of literacy
• Economic backwardness
• A declining or stagnant population.
• There are total of 75 PVTGs in India.