Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are the most vulnerable sections among India’s Scheduled Tribes. They are tribal communities that face a higher degree of isolation, deprivation and demographic vulnerability compared to other ST groups.
At present, India has 75 PVTG communities identified across 18 States and 1 Union Territory. They are important because normal tribal welfare schemes often fail to reach them due to remoteness, low literacy, weak health indicators and limited access to basic services. The Government’s major current intervention for them is PM-JANMAN, launched for the socio-economic development of PVTG communities.
Identification and Distribution
PVTGs were earlier known as Primitive Tribal Groups. The term was later changed to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups to avoid the colonial and insensitive language of “primitive”.
The identification of PVTGs is based on special vulnerability indicators, not merely Scheduled Tribe status. The usual criteria include:
- pre-agricultural level of technology
- stagnant or declining population
- very low literacy
- subsistence-level economy
- relative isolation from mainstream services
PVTGs are found in different ecological and cultural regions of India, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, central Indian forests, eastern hill regions, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and parts of South India.
Examples include:
- Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Onge, Sentinelese, Shompen in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Bonda, Didayi, Juang, Saora in Odisha
- Birhor, Asur, Korwa in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh
- Baiga, Sahariya, Bharia in central India
- Chenchu in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
- Toda, Kota, Kurumba, Kattunayakan in the Nilgiri region
Development Challenges
PVTGs face deeper vulnerability than many other tribal groups because their deprivation is multidimensional.
The major challenge is access. Many PVTG habitations are located in forests, hills, islands or remote settlements where ordinary service delivery is weak. This affects schooling, nutrition, healthcare, roads, electricity, drinking water and documentation.
A second challenge is demographic vulnerability. Some PVTG communities have small populations, declining numbers or weak health indicators. This makes them vulnerable to disease, displacement and cultural erosion.
A third concern is livelihood fragility. Many PVTGs depend on forests, shifting cultivation, hunting-gathering traditions, minor forest produce, pastoralism or subsistence agriculture. Restrictions on forest access, displacement from protected areas and market exploitation directly affect their survival.
The issue is not only poverty. PVTGs face a combination of low population base, weak institutional access, cultural vulnerability and high dependence on local ecology.
PM-JANMAN and Government Measures
The most important recent scheme for PVTGs is Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN). It was launched in FY 2023–24 for the socio-economic development of 75 PVTG communities living in 18 States and 1 Union Territory. The mission aims to provide basic facilities within three years, including safe housing, clean drinking water, education, health, nutrition, road connectivity, telecom connectivity, electrification and livelihood support.
PM-JANMAN focuses on saturation of basic services in PVTG habitations. Its major interventions include:
- pucca houses
- roads to unconnected habitations
- piped drinking water
- mobile medical units
- hostels and education support
- Anganwadi centres
- electricity for unelectrified households
- mobile network connectivity
- livelihood support through Van Dhan Vikas Kendras
In 2024, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs also ran IEC campaigns and beneficiary saturation camps across 194 districts to reach PVTG families and habitations under PM-JANMAN.
Key Concerns in Implementation
The main concern is that PVTG development cannot be treated like normal infrastructure delivery. These communities often live in ecologically sensitive and culturally distinct settings.
Three issues are especially important.
First, service delivery must not become forced assimilation. Housing, schools, health services and roads should improve living conditions without destroying cultural identity or customary institutions.
Second, documentation gaps create exclusion. Many PVTG families lack land records, identity documents, bank linkage or formal proof required for welfare schemes.
Third, forest rights are central. For many PVTGs, livelihood security depends on access to forests, minor forest produce and community land. Development schemes without proper implementation of forest rights can create dependence instead of empowerment.
Conclusion
PVTGs represent the most vulnerable section among India’s Scheduled Tribes.
Their vulnerability comes from small population size, low literacy, subsistence livelihoods, isolation and weak access to public services.
The shift from general tribal welfare to targeted schemes like PM-JANMAN is important because PVTGs require special attention, not routine scheme coverage. The real challenge is to combine basic services with protection of land, forest rights, cultural identity and community autonomy.
