Development
and Welfare of Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes - POLITY
NEWS: The Development
and Welfare Board for Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes
(DWBDNC) is making renewed efforts to implement the recommendations of
the Idate Commission to address the challenges faced
by these communities and improve their socio-economic conditions.
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
Nomadic, Semi Nomadic,
and Denotified Tribes (NTs, SNTs, and DNTs)
- Nomadic communities: Communities that move frequently instead
of settling in one place. They are often engaged in traditional
occupations like herding, trading, or crafts.
- Semi-nomadic Tribes: Partially nomadic and partially
settled, migrating seasonally but also establishing temporary settlements.
- Denotified tribes (DNTs): Formerly classified as “criminal
tribes” under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871 during
British rule. The Act was repealed in 1952, and these communities were “de-notified.”
- While
most DNTs are spread across the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes
(ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) categories, some DNTs
are not covered in any of the SC, ST or OBC categories.
- Historically, Nomadic Tribes and De-notified Tribes never
had access to private land or home ownership.
- While most DNTs are spread across the Scheduled Castes
(SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other
Backward Classes (OBC) categories, some DNTs are not covered in
any of the SC, ST or OBC categories.
- Many commissions and committees constituted
since Independence have referred to the problems of these communities.
- These
include the Criminal Tribes Inquiry Committee, 1947 constituted
in the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh),
- Ananthasayanam Ayyangar Committee in 1949 (it was based on the report of
this committee the Criminal Tribes Act was repealed),
- Kaka Kalelkar Commission (also called first OBC Commission) constituted
in 1953.
- The B
P Mandal Commission constituted in 1980 also made some
recommendations on the issue.
- The National
Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC), 2002 held
that DNTs have been wrongly stigmatised as crime prone and
subjected to high handed treatment as well as exploitation by
the representatives of law and order and general society.
- The NCRWC was established under the
chairmanship of Justice M N Venkatachaliah.
- It has been estimated that South Asia has the world’s
largest nomadic population.
- In
India, roughly 10% of the population is Denotified and Nomadic.
- While
the number of Denotified Tribes is about 150, the population of Nomadic
Tribes consists of about 500 different communities.
- Status: The Idate Commission had concluded there were a total of
1,526 DNT, NT, and SNT communities across the country, of which 269
were not yet categorised as either SC, ST, or OBC.
- There
are a total of 425 Denotified Tribes, 810 Nomadic Tribes and 27
Semi Nomadic Tribes in India.
- Of DNT communities, Lambadas (STs) are the most
vocal and visible, followed by Vadderas (BCs) in government sector and
political spheres.
Challenges faced by
NTs, SNTs, and DNTs
- Lack of Recognition and Documentation: Denotified
communities are lacking citizenship documents, which makes their identity
invisible and causes hindrances in obtaining government benefits,
constitutional, and citizenship rights.
- Limited Political Representation: Inadequate
representation of these communities makes it challenging to voice their
concerns and advocate for their rights.
- Social Stigma and Discrimination: NTs,
SNTs, and DNTs often face discrimination and social stigma, both due to
their historical denotified status and their distinct way of life.
- Economic Marginalization: Lack of access to resources,
markets, and employment opportunities results in economic marginalization
of these communities.
- Educational Deprivation: Educational opportunities for these
tribes are limited, leading to high illiteracy rates.
Recommendations of the
Idate Commission
- In 2014 , a National Commission for Denotified,
Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Tribes was constituted under the Chairmanship
of Bhiku Ramji Idate for a period of three years.
- The commission has given the following recommendations;
- There
is a need to identify challenges faced by the NTs, SNTs, and DNTs owing
to the stigma imposed by the enactment of the Criminal Tribes
Act, 1871.
- It
also suggested the non-inclusion of DNTs/NTs/SNTs under the SC/ST/OBC and
formulation of specific policies for the former, among many others.
- Setting
up a permanent commission for Nomadic, Semi Nomadic, and
Denotified Tribes (NTs, SNTs, and DNTs) in India.
- It
stressed on taking measures to discern hurdles endured by the communities
in availing basic facilities such as education, employment, health care,
and legal documents, among others.
Steps taken by
Government
- Development and Welfare Board for DNTs, SNTs, and NTs (DWBDNC): Constituted
in 2019 to address welfare concerns.
- NITI Aayog Identification Efforts: A
committee was established to finalize the identification of these
communities.
- Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED): Launched
in 2022 with a budget of ₹200 crore over five years (2021-26).
- The
four components of the Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs are:
- Coaching for competitive exams.
- Health insurance.
- Community-level livelihood initiatives.
- Financial assistance for housing construction.
Way Ahead
- The colonial mindset about the Denotified Tribes having
“criminal tendencies” needs to change to ensure their human rights are not
violated.
- Proper documentation of their identities needs to be
speeded up so that they get the benefits of welfare schemes and the basic
needs are provided to them.
- The NHRC has suggested that there is a need to
ensure representation of Denotified tribes in parliament, government
institutions and higher education to mitigate the challenges faced
by them.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/denotified-tribes-anger-boiling-over-amid-a-stagnating-scheme-and-classification-deadlocks/article69085545.ece