Development and Welfare of Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes

Syllabus: GS2/Polity and Governance

Context

• 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.

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 The Act was repealed in 1952, and these communities were “de-notified.”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.

• 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: TH