India’s 10.74 crore DNT/NT/SNT population remains marginalized despite decriminalization; expanding schemes, legal protections, and community-led initiatives, inspired by global models, can promote inclusive development, supporting India’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
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Picture Courtesy: THE HINDU
Members of the Development and Welfare Board for Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNC) wrote to the Prime Minister urging enhanced funding, staffing, financial powers, statutory backing, and elevation to permanent Commission status.
DNT/NT/SNT are historically stigmatized communities, comprising about 10% of India's population (as per 2001 Census), spread across SC, ST, OBC, and unclassified categories.
Denotified Tribes (DNTs): Communities labeled as “born criminals” under the British-era Criminal Tribes Act, 1871, due to their nomadic lifestyles or resistance to colonial control, repealed in 1952, these tribes (e.g., Kanjar, Nat, Pardhi, Sapera) were “denotified” but continue to face stigma and exclusion.
Nomadic Tribes (NTs): Communities that move frequently for livelihoods (e.g., pastoralists, artisans, entertainers) without fixed settlements.
Semi-Nomadic Tribes (SNTs): Communities with partial mobility, alternating between settled and nomadic patterns.
Persistent stigma: Many still face harassment and discrimination due to the historical "criminal tribes" tag.
Invisible citizens: Lack of permanent addresses and proper documents like Aadhaar, ration cards, and caste certificates makes them ineligible for welfare schemes and basic rights.
Economic Insecurity: Dependence on seasonal, informal labor, and traditional skills that are losing relevance leaves them with unstable incomes and high poverty.
Educational deprivation: High illiteracy and dropout rates persist due to their nomadic lifestyle, poverty, and discrimination in schools.
Police harassment: They often remain under suspicion and face routine surveillance and ill-treatment by law enforcement, sometimes under the Habitual Offenders Act.
Ineffective schemes: Existing welfare schemes are often inaccessible due to bureaucratic obstacles, lack of awareness, and weak implementation.
Political invisibility: With little political representation, their specific needs and issues are often overlooked in policymaking.
Criminal Tribes Inquiry Committee (1947): Assessed conditions in Uttar Pradesh.
Ananthasayanam Ayyangar Committee (1949): Recommended repeal of the 1871 Act, leading to denotification.
Kaka Kalelkar Commission (1953): First OBC Commission; identified DNTs within backward classes but offered limited actionable measures.
Renke Commission (2005): Estimated population at 10.74 crore; recommended permanent commission and welfare schemes.
Idate Commission (2014): Identified 1,262 DNT/NT/SNT communities; proposed DWBDNC for targeted welfare.
Scholarships: The Dr. Ambedkar pre- and post-matric scholarship schemes offer financial aid to eligible DNT students.
Hostel facilities: The Nanaji Deshmukh scheme helps construct hostels for DNT boys and girls pursuing secondary and higher education.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): These schools reserve 5% of their seats for children from DNT/NT/SNT communities.
Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED), launched in 2022, focuses on four main areas:
Development and Welfare Board for DNTs/NTs/SNTs (DWBDNC): Established in 2019, this body oversees the implementation of welfare and development programs for these communities.
Permanent Commission: Establish a statutory National Commission for DNTs/NTs/SNTs with powers akin to NCSC (National Commission for Scheduled Castes) and NCST (National Commission for Scheduled Tribes) for grievance redressal and policy enforcement.
Updated Census: Conduct a dedicated survey by 2027 to map population and needs, integrating with Census 2031.
Skill Development: Expand Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) for DNTs with tailored programs (e.g., handicrafts, animal husbandry).
Legal Protections: Amend SC/ST Atrocities Act to include DNTs explicitly, reducing discrimination.
Community Inclusion: Promote cultural preservation (e.g., Sapera snake-charming as heritage) via tourism and cooperatives.
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What India can learn from other countries?
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DNT/NT/SNT population remains marginalized, needing stronger schemes, legal safeguards, and community-led initiatives to ensure inclusive development and realize Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Source: THE HINDU
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Discuss the constitutional and legal safeguards available for the welfare of nomadic and denotified communities. 150 words |
DNTs are communities in India that were historically branded as "criminal tribes" under the British colonial-era Criminal Tribes Act of 1871. After India gained independence, the government repealed this draconian law in 1952, officially "denotifying" these communities and removing the criminal tag.
The Act severely stigmatized DNTs, restricting their movement and branding them as innately criminal. Entire communities were placed under surveillance, facing harassment, exploitation, and exclusion from mainstream society, which continued long after the law was repealed.
The SEED scheme, launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, is a Central Sector Scheme aimed at the socio-economic empowerment of DNTs. It includes provisions for coaching for competitive exams, health insurance, housing assistance, and livelihood initiatives
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