Central Idea

The Baiga Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) recently became the second community in the state to receive habitat rights, following the Kamar PVTG in Chhattisgarh.
Habitat rights recognition marks a crucial step towards preserving the culture, livelihoods, and heritage of these indigenous groups.

Baiga PVTG

The Baiga are an ethnic group found in central India primarily in the state of Madhya Pradesh, and in smaller numbers in the surrounding states of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
The largest number of Baiga is found in Baiga-chuk in Mandla district and Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh.

Significance: Habitat rights recognition bestows upon the concerned community various rights over their customary territory, encompassing habitation, socio-cultural practices, livelihood means, ecological knowledge, and protection of natural and cultural heritage.
Empowering Communities: These rights empower PVTG communities by safeguarding their traditional livelihoods and ecological knowledge, thereby promoting their development.
Coordination: Habitat rights facilitate the convergence of government schemes and initiatives across departments, fostering the holistic development of PVTG communities.

Forest Rights Act: Habitat rights for PVTGs are granted under Section 3(1)(e) of The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, commonly known as the Forest Rights Act (FRA).
Definition of Habitat: As per Section 2(h) of FRA, habitat encompasses customary habitats and other habitats within reserved forests and protected forests, catering to the needs of primitive tribal groups and pre-agricultural communities.
Protection from Developmental Activities: While habitat rights do not convey ownership, they require consent and consultation with the gram sabha (village council) for any developmental activity. These rights also offer legal protection under various laws.

Legal Safeguards: Habitat rights serve as an additional layer of legal protection against activities that may harm the habitat or livelihood of PVTGs.
Administrative Resolution: If developmental activities threaten habitat rights, the tribal community can raise the issue with the administration under the Forest Rights Act, potentially seeking legal recourse.

Procedure: Habitat determination is based on comprehensive guidelines issued by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) in 2014. Coordination among four state-level departments—Forest, Revenue, Tribal, and Panchayati Raj—is crucial.
Consultation: Traditional tribal leaders are consulted to assess cultural practices, traditions, and livelihoods. The government corroborates this information before officially declaring a habitat.

Definition	Tribal communities with declining population, low literacy, pre-agricultural tech, and economic backwardness.
Habitat	Inhabit remote areas with poor infrastructure and limited administrative support.
Vulnerability	Highly vulnerable due to small numbers and lack of socio-economic development.
Number	75 such groups identified and categorized as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
Origin of the Concept
Dhebar Commission (1960-1961)	Identified inequality in development among Scheduled Tribes.
Fourth Five Year Plan	Created a sub-category within Scheduled Tribes to identify lower development groups.
Sub-Category Name Change	Renamed “Primitive tribal group” to “Particularly vulnerable tribal group” in 2006.
Features of PVTGs
Characteristics	Pre-agricultural lifestyle, hunting and gathering, zero/negative population growth, low literacy.
Criteria	Any one criterion makes a group a PTG, later renamed PVTG by the Indian government.