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Empowering PVTG – Baiga Tribe Gets Habitat Rights in Chhattisgarh
Introduction
- Baiga PVTG recently got habitat rights in Chhattisgarh.
The Baiga tribe, categorized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), recently became the second tribal community after the Kamar PVTG to be granted habitat rights in the state of Chhattisgarh. This development comes ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the state.
A total of 19 Baiga villages spread across the Gaurela block, with a population of around 6,500 people belonging to over 2,000 families, have been given habitat rights. The rights were conferred upon the Baiga villages in a special event organized by the district administration of Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi.
The habitat rights formally recognize the right of the Baiga people over their customary habitat and provide additional legal protection to the community. This move is expected to safeguard and promote the traditional knowledge, livelihoods, and heritage of the vulnerable Baiga tribe. With assembly elections approaching, the conferring of habitat rights also carries political significance.
Baiga Tribe Overview
| Sections | Details |
|---|---|
| Context | Baiga PVTG: Habitat rights in Chhattisgarh |
| Habitat Rights |
|
| Baiga Tribe |
|
| Habitat Rights for Baigas |
|
| Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) |
|
| Empowerment |
|
What are Habitat Rights and Why are they Important?
- Definition
- Rights under habitat rights
- Legal provision (Forest Rights Act 2006)
- Empowers PVTG communities
- Convergence of schemes
- Preserves traditional knowledge
Definition of Habitat Rights
| Aspect | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Habitat Rights Entail | Customary territory of habitation Socio-cultural practices Economic means Traditional knowledge of biodiversity and ecology Use of natural resources Protection and conservation of natural and cultural heritage |
| Benefits of Habitat Rights | Safeguard/promote traditional knowledge Converge government schemes to empower PVTG communities |
| Legal Provision | Section 3(1) (e) of Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 |
| FRA Definition | “Habitat includes area comprising customary habitat and other habitats in reserved and protected forests of tribal groups and forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes” |
Habitat rights are formal rights granted to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) like the Baiga Tribe to protect their customary habitats and territories. As per the Forest Rights Act of 2006, habitat rights provide PVTG communities various rights over their traditional habitat including rights over socio-cultural practices, livelihood means, ecological knowledge, and natural resource usage.
Specifically, habitat rights recognition confers rights to the PVTG communities with regards to their customary territory, habitation, economic and livelihood activities, intellectual knowledge of biodiversity, traditional know-how of natural resources, and preservation of cultural and natural heritage.
By granting habitat rights, the traditional livelihoods and ecological knowledge accumulated by PVTGs over generations and passed down ancestrally gets legal protection. This empowers vulnerable tribal groups like Baigas to exercise greater control over the development of their habitat.
Additionally, habitat rights facilitate the convergence of diverse government schemes and initiatives from various departments including tribal welfare, forest, revenue, panchayati raj etc. This enables a more holistic development of PVTG habitats.
Status of Habitat Rights in India
| Aspect | Information |
|---|---|
| Total PVTGs with Habitat Rights | Three (Bharia PVTG, Kamar tribe, Baiga tribe) |
| States Recognising Habitat Rights | Madhya Pradesh (Bharia PVTG), Chhattisgarh (Kamar tribe, Baiga tribe) |
| Process | Traditional tribal leaders consulted, government corroborates, then habitat is declared |
Overall, habitat rights are an important means of legally safeguarding the unique culture, traditions, and heritage of marginalized tribal groups like the Baigas. Simultaneously, it empowers them to chart their own developmental path.
Baiga PVTGs in Chhattisgarh
- Demographic distribution
- Livelihood patterns
- Socio-cultural practices
The Baiga tribe, categorized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), is primarily concentrated in several districts of Chhattisgarh including Rajnandgaon, Kawardha, Mungeli, Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi, Bilaspur, and Balod. Smaller populations of the Baiga community are also found in neighboring areas of Madhya Pradesh.
Traditionally, the Baiga Tribe practiced slash-and-burn agriculture and led a semi-nomadic lifestyle. Now their livelihood mainly relies on the collection and trade of minor forest produce. Mahua flowers and liquor made from Mahua hold cultural significance for the Baigas.
The Baiga culture is steeped in distinctive tattooing practices, with specific tattoos allotted for each age group and body part. Dance and music also form an integral part of Baiga Tribe heritage.
Habitat Rights for Baiga PVTG
- Villages covered
- Process of habitat determination
- Rights and protections provided
A total of 19 Baiga Tribe villages spread across the Gaurela block, with a population of around 6,500 Baigas belonging to over 2,000 families, have been granted habitat rights.
The process of habitat determination involved extensive consultations with traditional Baiga Tribe leaders to assess the community’s customary cultural and livelihood practices. This was verified by the state administration before finalizing the habitat boundaries.
The habitat rights formally recognize the Baiga Tribe people’s rights over their ancestral land, forests, culture, and resources. It empowers the community to protect their habitat from exploitation. The rights require mandatory approval of the village council for any developmental activity, providing an additional layer of legal protection.
Significance for Vulnerable Tribal Groups
- Additional legal safeguard
- Require consent for developmental activities
- Raise issues under FRA if rights violated
The habitat rights conferred upon the Baiga Tribe serve as an additional legal protection for the community against exploitation of their lands and resources. Any developmental activity in the demarcated habitat zone would need approval from the concerned village council.
If the rights are violated by any governmental or corporate activity, the Baigas can raise objections under the provisions of the Forest Rights Act. This provides recourse to vulnerable tribes like Baigas whose habitats were earlier unprotected from external interference.
Implications of Habitat Rights
| Query | Response |
|---|---|
| Can it stop activities like mining? | Yes, provides protection from harmful developmental activities. Requires consent and consultation of gram sabha for any development. |
| Legal Protections | – Forest Conservation Act – Land Acquisition law of 2013 – SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act – Grant of habitat rights under FRA |
| What if developmental activity hampers rights? | Tribal group can address it with administration under the FRA, and if unresolved, can take it to court. |
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups
- Criteria for identification
- PVTGs in India – states, population
- Vulnerabilities and marginalization
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
| Aspect | Information |
|---|---|
| Definition | Most marginalized and backward sections among Scheduled Tribes (STs) |
| Criteria for Identification | – Pre-agricultural technology -Low literacy – Economic backwardness – Declining/stagnant population |
| History | – Dhebar commission (1960-61) identified inequality among tribal communities – 1975: 52 tribal groups identified as PTGs – 1993: More tribal groups added – 2001: 75 PVTGs identified – 2006: PTGs renamed as PVTGs |
| States with Largest PVTG Population | Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu (covering 38 out of the 75 PVTGs) |
| State with Highest Number of PVTGs | Odisha |
| Largest PVTG | Saharia tribe (More than 4 lakhs population in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan) |
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs identifies and categorizes certain marginalized tribal communities as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) based on criteria like stagnant population, primitive agricultural practices, low literacy, geographical isolation etc.
There are 75 officially notified PVTGs in India, with significant populations in states like Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. The Saharia tribe of MP and Rajasthan is the largest PVTG with over 4 lakh members.
Due to their remote habitation, distinct culture, lack of infrastructure and vulnerable livelihoods, PVTGs remain isolated from mainstream development. Habitat rights are an important move to legally empower such marginalized tribes.
Conclusion:
- Empowering PVTGs through habitat rights
- Caution against disturbing autonomy
- Affirmative action keeping uniqueness of tribes
The granting of habitat rights to PVTGs like the Baigas is an affirmative step to legally empower some of India’s most marginalized tribes and enable them to preserve their unique identity. However, care must be taken to not disturb the autonomy of these traditionally self-sufficient communities in the name of development. The conferring of rights should reinforce the tribes’ own authority over their habitats rather than erode it.
