Baiga Tribal Group Gets Habitat Rights in Chhattisgarh

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG)?
• Government Scheme(s) for PVTGs:
• Baiga PVTG
• News Summary: Baiga tribal group gets habitat rights in Chhattisgarh
• What are habitat rights?
• Can habitat rights be used to stop activities like mining?

Why in news?

• The Baiga Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) became the second to get habitat rights in Chhattisgarh, after the Kamar PVTG.
  • There are seven PVTGs in Chhattisgarh, who live in 17 of the state’s 33 districts.
  • These are Kamar, Baiga, Pahadi Korba, Abujhmadiya, Birhor, Pando and Bhujia.
• A total of 19 Baiga villages with a population of 6,483 people (2,085 families) have been given the habitat rights.

What is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG)?

• 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 this context, in 1975, the Government of India declared 52 tribal groups as PVTGs on the recommendation of Dhebar commission.
  • Currently, there are 75 PVTGs out of 705 Scheduled Tribes.
• The PVTGs are spread over 18 states and one Union Territory (UT), in the country (2011 census).
  • Odisha has the highest number (more than 2.5 lakh) of PVTGs.

Characteristics of PVTGs:

• Population – stagnant/declining
• Technology – pre-agricultural
• Literacy Level – extremely low
• Economy – Subsistence level

Government Scheme(s) for PVTGs:

• Ministry of Tribal Affairs implements a scheme in the name of 'Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)'.
• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme having a provision of 100% Central assistance to 18 states and Union territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• The scheme of Development of PVTGs aims at socio-economic development of PVTGs in a comprehensive manner, while retaining their culture and heritage.
• As a part of the scheme, State Governments undertakes projects that are tailored to cater to sectors like education, health and livelihood schemes for the PVTGs.

Baiga PVTG

About:

• The Baiga are an ethnic group in central India. They are one of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). 
• The Baiga live in the following states: 
  • Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal.
• They have sub-castes – Bijhwar, Narotia, Bharotiya, Nahar, Rai Bhaina, and Kadh Bhaina.

Occupation:

• Traditionally, the Baiga lived a semi-nomadic life and practised slash-and-burn cultivation. 
• Now, they are mainly dependent on minor forest produce for their livelihood.
• They practice a form of shifting cultivation called, "Bewar."

Features:

• Mahua is an important aspect of Baiga's food and drink. 
  • It is an intoxicant prepared from the fermentation and distillation of the flowers of the Mahua tree.
• Tattooing is an integral part of Baiga culture, every age and body part has a specific tattoo reserved for the occasion.
• It was below the dignity of a Baiga to become a labourer. 
• Members of the Baiga tribe do not interact even with other tribals like the Gonds, as interaction with any other tribe is a crime for them. 
• After a death in the family, the Baigas leave the house and build another one.

News Summary: Baiga tribal group gets habitat rights in Chhattisgarh

What are habitat rights?

• About
  • Recognizing habitat rights means giving a community the authority over where they live traditionally, their customs, how they make a living, their knowledge about nature, and how they use natural resources. 
  • It also involves safeguarding their environment and cultural heritage.
  • Habitat rights safeguard and promote traditional livelihood and ecological knowledge passed down through generations.
• Habitat rights include
  • Rights over a community's traditional territory
  • Rights to socio-cultural practices
  • Rights to economic and livelihood means
  • Rights to intellectual knowledge of biodiversity and ecology
  • Rights to traditional knowledge of use of natural resources
  • Rights to protection and conservation
• Legal backing of habitat rights
  • Habitat rights are given to PVTGs under section 3(1) (e) of The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 also known as the Forest Rights Act (FRA).
• States which have recognised habitat rights
  • Out of 75 PVTG in India, only three have habitat rights. 
  • The Bharia PVTG in Madhya Pradesh was the first, followed by the Kamar tribe and now the Baiga tribe in Chhattisgarh.
• How does the government fix a habitat?
  • The procedure is based on a detailed guideline given for this purpose in 2014 by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
  • Based on the MoTA guidelines, the traditional tribal leaders of the tribe are consulted about the extent of their culture, traditions, occupation. 
  • It is corroborated by the government and then a habitat is declared

Can habitat rights be used to stop activities like mining?

• The habitat rights will help the PVTG protect their habitat from developmental activities harmful to them. 
• The title may not be an ownership title in the nature of a private property owner, but consent and consultation of the gram sabha will be needed for any developmental activity.

Q1) What is FRA 2006?

The Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006 recognizes the rights of traditional forest dwellers to forest resources. The act was passed in 2006 to address the historical injustice done to traditional forest dwellers in India. It was enacted to protect the right to life and livelihood of scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.

Q2) What is the geographical location of Chhattisgarh?

Chhattisgarh is located between 17°46' and 24°5' north latitude and 80°15' and 84°20' east longitude. It's bordered by: Madhya Pradesh to the north-west, Maharashtra to the west, Andhra Pradesh to the south.

Source: Baiga tribal group gets habitat rights in Chhattisgarh: What this means, significance | Tribal Ministry | Vikaspedia | Atlas of Humanity