1.78 lakh PVTGs Enrolled

• 25 Sep 2024

Why in News?

Recently, the Election Commission of India has taken significant steps to ensure inclusive, participative elections in Jharkhand, focusing on the enrollment of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

Key Points

• 100% Enrollment of PVTGs: 1.78 lakh voters from eight PVTGs have been fully enrolled in the electoral roll.
• Electoral Roll Statistics: A total of 2.59 crore electors are registered, including 1.28 crore women voters and over 11.05 lakh first-time voters (18-19 years).
• Special Summary Revision (SSR): The second SSR for the State was completed and the electoral roll was published on 27^th August, 2024.
• Election Commission's Directive: Emphasis on zero tolerance for the use of money power, as conveyed during meetings with enforcement agencies, political parties, and security forces.

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

• In India, tribal population makes up for 8.6% of the total population.
• PVTGs are more vulnerable among the tribal groups. Due to this factor, more developed and assertive tribal groups take a major chunk of the tribal development funds because of which PVTGs need more funds directed for their development.
• 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 PVTGs.
• In this context, in 1975, the Government of India initiated to identify the most vulnerable tribal groups as a separate category called PVTGs and declared 52 such groups, while in 1993 an additional 23 groups were added to the category, making it a total of 75 PVTGs out of 705 Scheduled Tribes.
• PVTGs have some basic characteristics i.e., they are mostly homogenous, with a small population, relatively physically isolated, absence of written language, relatively simple technology and a slower rate of change etc.
• Among the 75 listed PVTG’s the highest number are found in Odisha.