Determination Of PTG Status & Feasibility Of Microproject For The Gadaba Tribe In Selected Pockets Of Odisha

Abstract

The Dhebar Commission (1960-1961) stated that within Scheduled Tribes there existed an inequality in the rate of development. During the Fifth Five Year Plan (FYP) a sub-category was created within Scheduled Tribes to identify groups that are considered to be at a lower level of development. This special category was named "Primitive Tribal Group" (PTGs). The features of such a group include a pre-agricultural system of existence, i.e. practice of hunting and gathering, zero or negative population growth, extremely low level of literacy in comparison with other tribal groups. By the end of the Fifth Five Year Plan, 52 communities were identified as "Primitive Tribal Groups", 20 groups were added in the Sixth Five Year Plan, 2 more in the Seventh Five Year Plan and 1 more group was added in the Eighth Five-Year Plan, making a total 75 groups as PTGs. These communities were identified on the basis of recommendations made by the respective state governments. In 2009, Government of India (GoI) decided to re-designate "Primitive Tribal Group" (PTG) as "Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG)" considering the complaints that the term "primitive" is value loaded. The commonly agreed cultural traits of PTGs are (1) homogeneity, (2) small population, (3) relative physical isolation, (4) social institutions are cast in a simple mould, (5) absence of a written language (6) relatively simple techno-economy and (7) a slower rate of change in the present context. The group of aboriginals who continue to pursue an archaic way of life and absorb the changes slowly are distinguished as PTGs. These "Primitive" (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups) people are diverse in character and live in different environments of more interior and less accessible pockets and their traditional sources of sustenance are declining. As such, they languish in very fragile conditions of backwardness and deprivation. This has made them more vulnerable to food insecurity, malnutrition and ill-health. Their socio-economic and educational conditions are much worse than other tribal groups. Besides, their remote habitat lacks the required minimum administrative set up and infrastructure back up. Their needs and problems are different from other scheduled tribes and hence deserve special attention. With the adoption of the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) approach since the 5th Five Year Plan, Government of India has been taking steps to identify the PVTGs in different parts of the country and implement special projects and programmes for their all-round development.