Bills to Include PVTGs to ST List in Odisha and AP

• 12 Feb 2024

For Prelims: Parliament, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), PM-JANMAN

For Mains: Government Policies & Interventions, Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population

Source: TH

Why in News?

Recently, Parliament passed two bills that aim to modify the lists of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The bills were passed by voice vote in the Lok Sabha.

• The bills seek to include certain tribes to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and certain communities of the SC list to ST list, based on the recommendations of the state governments, after consultation with the Registrar General of India and the National Commissions for Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes.

Voice Vote

• It involves the speaker putting a question to the house and then asking the house to put forward its opinion in the forms of ayes (yes) or noes. Based on a rough measure of which side was louder, the speaker decides if the motion was passed or fell through.

What are the Bills and What do they Propose?

• Andhra Pradesh: The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 seeks to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, in relation to Andhra Pradesh.
  • The Order lists the tribes deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in states and union territories.
  • The Bill adds the following Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) to the list of STs in Andhra Pradesh: (i) Bondo Porja, (ii) Khond Porja, and (iii) Konda Savaras.
• Odisha: The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2024 amends the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 to modify the list of SCs and STs in Odisha.
  • PVTGs added to the Scheduled Tribes list in Odisha:
    • Pauri Bhuyan and Paudi Bhuyan (included as synonyms of Bhuyan Tribe).
    • Chuktia Bhunjia (recognized as Bhunjia tribe).
    • Bondo community (sub-tribe of Bondo Poraja).
    • Mankidia community (synonym of Mankirdia tribe).
  • Odisha's ST list expanded with two new entries: Muka Dora (also Mooka Dora, Nuka Dora and Nooka Dora) and Konda Reddy (also Konda Reddi) tribes.
  • The Bill removes Tamadia and Tamudia communities from the list of SCs in Odisha and adds them to the list of STs.

Note

• The bills only added synonyms, phonetic variations, and sub-tribes of existing STs in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh; the count of PVTGs in India remains unchanged at 75.

What is the Importance of these Bills?

• The amendment addresses discrepancies in the treatment of certain tribes across different regions.
  • Communities like Konda Reddy and Muka Dora were recognized as ST in Andhra Pradesh but faced discrimination in Odisha.
  • The inclusion of these groups in the ST list rectifies long-standing disparities, ensuring equitable access to government provisions and services.
• PVTGS listed as STs gain access to reservation quotas in education, employment, and political representation.
  • ST status ensures affirmative action in educational institutions, allowing PVTG students to compete on a level playing field.

What is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group?

• About:
  • A PVTG is a sub-classification of a Scheduled Tribe or section of a Scheduled Tribe that is considered more vulnerable than a regular Scheduled Tribe. The Indian Government created the PVTG list to improve their living.
    • There are 75 PVTGs in India, the maximum 13 are in Odisha, followed by 12 in Andhra Pradesh.
  • Article 342(1): The President with respect to any State/UT (after consultation with the Governor in case of state) may specify the tribes/tribal communities/part of or groups within tribes/ tribal communities as a Scheduled Tribe in that State/UT.
    • Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the list of STs specified in a notification issued under article 342(1) any tribe or tribal community or part of or group within any tribe or tribal community, but save as aforesaid a notification issued under the said clause shall not be varied by any subsequent notification.
• Initiatives:
  • PM-JANMAN
  • Janjatiya Gaurav Divas.
  • Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra.
  • PM PVTG Mission.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims:

Q.1 Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India: (2019)

1. PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory.
2. A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status.
3. There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far.
4. Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 4
(d) 1, 3 and 4

Ans: (c)

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Mains:

Q. What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs)? (2017)

Q. Why are the tribals in India referred to as ‘the Scheduled Tribes’? Indicate the major provisions enshrined in the Constitution of India for their upliftment. (2016)