JUANG TRIBE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Indian Society)

Context: The Juangs of Jajpur have become the fifth Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in the country and second in the state to get habitat rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.

Juang Tribe

• Homeland: The Juang tribe resides exclusively in Odisha, particularly in Juang Pirh, Keonjhar.
• Divisions: The Juang are divided into two groups: Hill (Thaniya) and Plain (Bhagudia) Juang.
• Traditional Attire: Originally known as Patuas due to their leaf skirt attire, they now prefer clothing from local markets.
• Relationship with Paudi Bhuinyas: They share a symbiotic relationship with the Paudi Bhuinyas, another PTG group in their vicinity.
• Ancestral Connection: According to common folklore, the ancestors of the Bhuinyas and Juang were brothers.
• Language: Juang (Mundari)
• Major Occupation: Cultivation, Shifting Cultivation, Hunting, Food Gathering.
• Village Structure: Juang villages are uni-clan in nature.
• Mandaghar: The mandaghar, a traditional youth dormitory, is central to village life and is where changu dances are performed.

Habitat Rights

• About: These are granted under the Forest Rights Act and provide communities with rights over their customary territories, cultural practices, livelihood means, biodiversity knowledge, and protection of their natural and cultural heritage.
• Objective: Habitat rights help safeguard traditional livelihoods and ecological knowledge.
• Empowerment of PVTG Communities: Habitat rights empower Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) to access government schemes and initiatives to develop their habitats.
• Specific Legal Provision: Section 3(1)(e) of the Forest Rights Act, 2006: Habitat rights are specifically granted to PVTGs under section 3(1)(e) of The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
• PVTG Classification: PVTGs are a sub-classification of Scheduled Tribes in India and are considered more vulnerable than regular Scheduled Tribes.