Reframing democratic inclusion: rights, welfare foundation, and participation of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in Odisha

Abstract

Democratic decentralization is a greater mechanism for addressing the issues of historically marginalized groups, yet PVTG-inhabited regions often confront structural limitations in Odisha. This article investigates the relationship between rights recognition, welfare foundation, and participatory governance among Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in Odisha. Although institutions such as Gram Sabha under PESA and community-based governance under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) are celebrated as instruments of democratic deepening, their functioning in contexts of extreme marginality remains insufficiently theorized. Drawing on participatory governance theory, differentiated citizenship, and the capability approach, the study proposes a sequencing framework in which substantive participation emerges from prior rights recognition and effective welfare delivery. Using a mixed-method design across selected PVTG-dominated districts, the research analyses gaps in forest and land rights, identity documentation, food security, healthcare, education, housing, and livelihood entitlements. The findings show that where tenure security, welfare access, and institutional accountability are weak, participation tends to be procedural rather than transformative. By distinguishing PVTGs from the broader Scheduled Tribe category, the article advances a context-sensitive, rights- and welfare-first model of democratic inclusion.