In a significant development ahead of the Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, the Baiga Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) has been granted habitat rights, becoming the second PVTG in the state to receive these rights after the Kamar PVTG. This recognition provides the Baiga community with rights over their customary territory, socio-cultural practices, livelihood means, and more, preserving their natural and cultural heritage. The Habitat Rights are granted under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, also known as the Forest Rights Act (FRA).
Significance of Habitat Rights:
- Empowering Indigenous Communities: Habitat rights empower PVTG communities by recognizing their traditional territories, knowledge, and cultural practices.
- Conservation: These rights aid in the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity within their habitats.
- Protection from Development Activities: Habitat rights provide an additional layer of legal protection, allowing PVTGs to safeguard their territories from potentially harmful developmental activities such as mining.
Recognition of PVTGs:
- Criteria for PVTGs: PVTGs are tribal communities that are technologically backward, have stagnant or declining population growth, low literacy rates, and a subsistence-level economy. They often reside in isolated and remote areas.
- Government Scheme: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) initiated a scheme in 2019 to protect and improve the social indicators of PVTGs, including livelihood, health, nutrition, and education.
Habitat Rights in India:
- Limited Recognition: Out of 75 PVTGs in India, only three have received habitat rights. The Bharia PVTG in Madhya Pradesh was the first, followed by the Kamar tribe and now the Baiga tribe in Chhattisgarh.
- Protection from Development Activities: Habitat rights provide PVTGs with the means to protect their territories and traditional ways of life from development activities that may adversely affect them.
Procedure for Fixing Habitats:
- Coordinated Effort: The process involves coordination among four state-level departments: Forest, Revenue, Tribal, and Panchayati Raj.
- Consultation: Traditional tribal leaders are consulted regarding the extent of their culture, traditions, and occupation, following guidelines provided by MoTA.
