Abstract

PvTGs and Government Policies and Programmes in Telangana: Institutional Impact, Social Inclusion, and Development Outcomes towards Viksit Bharat 2047

Dr. A. Lakshmi, Dr. Mallikarjuna Naik Vadithe, Prof. B. Sudhakar Reddy

Volume: 14 Issue: 1 2024

Abstract:

Telangana hosts one of India’s largest and culturally distinct groups of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PvTGs), notably the Chenchu and Kondareddy communities, concentrated in the districts of Bhadradri?Kothagudem, Jayashankar-Bhupalpally, Adilabad, Kumuram Bheem–Asifabad, Nagarkurnool, and Mahabubnagar (Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Telangana, 2018-19). Following state formation in 2014, the Government of Telangana enacted structural reforms such as the Telangana State Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Special Development Fund (Planning, Allocation and Utilization of Financial Resources) Act, 2017 (TS STSDF Act) to institutionalize dedicated financing for SC/ST development. Simultaneously, expansion of the Ekalavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) system and the growth of women’s collectives under the state chapter of Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (T-SERP) intensified focus on educating, empowering, and mobilizing tribal communities (Telangana Booklet, 2023; IJCRT, 2024). This paper critically examines the institutional framework of Telangana’s tribal development architecture, evaluates outcomes across education, health, land rights, livelihoods, and local governance among PvTGs, and proposes an integrated roadmap aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Through a synthesis of legislative review, budget analysis, and published empirical findings, the study finds the TS STSDF Act has provided a statutory basis for resource allocation and monitoring (Budget Vol – VII?3, 2021–22). Implementation of EMRS and hostels has improved enrolment and retention in remote tribal habitations, while women’s SHG-based livelihoods under T-SERP show promising mobilization of tribal women. Yet, enduring barriers remain: recognition of individual and community forest rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA) remains minimal for PvTGs in Telangana (Rao & Rights & Resources India, 2017). Digital connectivity and access remain limited in deep forest habitations, and Gram Sabha functioning under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) is still nascent. Building on these findings, the proposed roadmap includes saturating forest rights recognition by 2030, developing tribal-owned value chains, deploying digital governance platforms, and upscaling tribal women’s entrepreneurship to establish sustainable livelihoods. The study concludes that while Telangana has created a commendable institutional and legislative foundation, realizing inclusive development for its PvTGs requires bridging the gap between policy intent and ground-level agency, and aligning institutional capacity with the aspirations of Viksit Bharat 2047.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.37648/ijrssh.v14i01.006

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