World Environment Day 2023

  • June 5, 2023
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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World Environment Day 2023

Subject: Geography

Section: Human geography

Context:

Adivasis (Paniyan tribal men in Kerala) making life-sized elephants from lantana provides them with employment besides decreasing lantana in the forest and raising awareness about human-wildlife coexistence.

Paniya tribe:

  • The Paniya, also known as Paniyar and Paniyan, are an ethnic group of India.
  • They constitute the single largest Scheduled Tribe in Kerala and are mainly found in the Wayanad District and the neighboring areas of Karnataka.
  • They primarily inhabit villages around the edge of forestland in Kerala’s Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kannur and Malappuram districts.
  • The Paniya speak the Paniya language, which belongs to the Dravidian family, closely related to Malayalam.
  • A scheduled tribe, they have a population of around 94,000 (Sex ratio 1057).
  • There is a theory that the Paniyas were brought to Wayand by the Jain Gounders who trained them to be agricultural laborers in their fields.
  • The centre of the bonding contracts was the famous temple of the regional Mother Goddess of the Valliyoorkkavu shrine near Mananthavady.

Distribution of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India:

      STATE            TRIBES FOUND
Andhra Pradesh and TelanganaBodo Gadaba, Bondo Poroja, Chenchu, DongriaKhond,  GutobGadaba, Khond Poroja, Kolam, Kondareddis, Konda Savaras, Kutia Khond, ParengiPoroja, thoti
Bihar and JharkhandAsurs, Birhor, Birjia, Hill Kharia, Konvas, Mal Paharia, Parhaiyas, SaudaPaharia, Savar
GujaratKathodi, Kohvalia, Padhar, Siddi, Kolgha
KarnatakaJenuKuruba, Koraga
KeralaCholanaikayan (a section of Kattunaickans), Kadar, Kattunayakan, Kurumbas, Koraga
Madhya Pradesh and

Chhattisgarh

Abujh Macias, Baigas,  Bharias, Hill Korbas, Kamars, Saharias, Birhor
MaharashtraKatkaria (Kathodia), Kolam, Maria Gond
ManipurMarram Nagas
OdishaBirhor, Bondo, Didayi, Dongria-Khond, Juangs, Kharias, Kutia Kondh, LanjiaSauras, Lodhas,  Mankidias, PaudiBhuyans, Soura, ChuktiaBhunjia
RajasthanSeharias
Tamil NaduKattuNayakans, Kotas, Kurumbas, Irulas, Paniyans, Todas
TripuraReangs
Uttar Pradesh and UttarakhandBuxas, Rajis
West BengalBirhor, Lodhas, Totos
Andaman and nicobar islandsGreat Andamanese, Jarawas, Onges, Sentinelese, Shorn Pens

Issues Faced by PVTGs in India

  • The dearth of data – The census doesn’t comprehensively capture data on the PVTGs.
    • Some PVTGs are not even recognized as STs.
    • Some PVTGs are located outside Schedule 5 and 6 areas, and remain bereft of special protections.
  • Problems of Culture Contact which causes:
    • Degradation of the native culture.
    • Bringing in foreign pathogens and diseases that can wipe out their entire populations. (Syphilis among Jarawas)
    • Disruption of the tribal way of life due to economic exploitation of the resources of the area. (Resource curse)
  • Rise of exploitative economic systems like the Goti system – a bonded labour system among Juangs.
  • The conflict between environmental conservation and upholding tribal rights.
  • PVTGs, being a near Mendelian population, are more prone to modern diseases, thereby increasing the chances of extermination.
  • Poor socio-economic indicators.  For example, Himalayan tribes suffer from goitre due to the paucity of iodine in their diet.
Geography World Environment Day 2023