"Our people will finally hold legal rights to our land. Without them, our future would forever be uncertain,” exclaims Indra Bai, as she meticulously weaves another cane basket. Indra belongs to the Kamar tribe, one of India’s Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups or PVTGs.

Within India's diverse tapestry of tribal populations, there exist 75 tribal communities known as the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), as recognized by the Government of India. This designation arises from their heightened vulnerability compared to other tribal groups.

On the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Indra Bai and numerous Kamar tribals from 22 villages in Chhattisgarh were granted legal title and rights over their habitat - known as Habitat Rights, under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. These rights serve as a cornerstone for securing the habitat, cultural identity and livelihoods of PVTGs. 
 
Who are the PVTGs

Spread across 18 states and one union territory, the 75 PVTGs inhabit diverse ecological landscapes—from serene plains and lush forests to rugged hills and remote, inaccessible areas. These groups are also culturally different from one another.

Their journeys through social, economic, and educational development vary widely, characterized by limited access to development resources and infrastructure. For instance, some PVTGs like the Sentinelese of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are grappling with the challenges of declining populations.

The Government of India has been instrumental in nurturing the development needs of the PVTG communities, implementing dedicated schemes since the 1990s. A significant leap forward is the Pradhan Mantri Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) Development Mission, introduced in the Union Budget 2023-24. This mission is designed to improving the socio-economic status of PVTGs and bridging gaps in health, education, livelihoods, and basic infrastructure. Collaborating closely with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, UNDP is actively strengthening the implementation of the tribal development programmes and policies at both central and state levels.

Understanding Habitat Rights

In 2006, the Government of India ushered in a transformative legislation called the Forest Rights Act (FRA) to empower forest-dwelling communities, including Scheduled Tribes, and recognize their rights over forestland and resources. Under this act, the concept of Habitat Rights was introduced, aiming to secure the habitat and livelihood of PVTGs and other tribal communities.

Section 2(h) of the FRA defines ‘habitat’ as the ‘area comprising the customary habitat and such other habitats in reserved and protected forests of primitive tribal groups and pre-agricultural communities, and other forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes’.

However, the process of the recognition of the habitat rights is a complex one, demanding a grasp of the concept both within the community and the administrative levels. This has resulted in the slow initiation of the process in many states.

The slow progress in recognizing habitat rights can be attributed to a number of factors, including the absence of comprehensive socio-economic information about the communities and the complexity of the process – which includes the identification of traditional clans and sub-groups and mapping of the habitats.

This process also requires the active participation of community leaders, district administration, and the state government, including building their capacity and awareness.

Recognizing Habitat Rights in Chhattisgarh

On August 9, the Government of Chhattisgarh became one of the pioneering states to recognize the Habitat Rights of Kamar PVTGs from 22 villages within the Magarlod block of Dhamtari district, constituting the traditional Magarlod Kamar Pali.  

Since 2021, UNDP has been partnering with the Government of Chhattisgarh ‘s department of tribal and scheduled caste development to strengthen capacities for the effective implementation of Forest Right Act, 2006.