Empowerment of Denotified/Nomadic Tribes
Denotified Tribes, Nomadic Tribes and Semi Nomadic Tribes are one of the most deprived and economically weaker communities in India. There are historical reasons for this. The misery of these communities began with the enactment of the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871 during the British rule. This Act was the most draconian law passed by the British colonial state, under which millions of nomadic and semi-nomadic communities were declared criminals and put under continuous surveillance, making their lives impossible. These communities were subjugated, persecuted and neglected. The policies of the colonial government affected lives and livelihood adversely. Little did the colonial state realize the plight of these communities after they were branded as criminals under various colonial Acts. This led to the forcible alienation from their traditional occupations and habitations. They remained hunter gatherers and pastoral/peripatetic.
Historically, these communities never had access to private land or home ownership. These tribes used forests and grazing lands for their livelihood and residential use and had "strong ecological connections. Many of them are dependent upon various types of natural resources and carve out intricate ecological niches for their survival. The changes in ecology and environment seriously affect their livelihood options.3 These tribes have barely benefitted from the planned developments since the Indian independence. So far, they have been deprived of state support like the SCs/STs. Various efforts are being undertaken by the government for bringing these communities in the main stream.
Total Number of DNT, SNT and NT Communities
A National Commission for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NCDNT) was constituted by Government of India in February 2014, inter-alia, to prepare a state-wise list of castes belonging to De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes. NCDNT submitted its report on 08.01.2018. As per the report, a total of 1262 communities have been identified as De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic communities across the country.
The data belongs to the report of National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Tribes submitted in December 2017. There are a total of 425 Denotified Tribes, 810 Nomadic Tribes and 27 Semi Nomadic Tribes in India.
Various Committees Set up for Empowerment of DNTs
1. Ayyangar Committee, 1949
After the independence of India, there had been a persistent demand by the Central Legislature that the Criminal Tribes Act be repealed as it seeks to classify particular classes of people as criminals and is not aligned with the dignity of free India. For this, The Criminal Tribes Enquiry Committee was set-up 1949-1950 chaired by M Ananthsayanam Ayyangar. After a detailed study of the working of the Criminal Tribes Act throughout the country, it submitted its report in 1950, in which it made several recommendations for the repeal of the Act. The Committee also emphasized the need for allocation of adequate funds for their welfare and rehabilitation.
The Government of India accepted some of the recommendations of the Ayyangar Committee. It repealed the Criminal Tribes Act with effect from 31 August 1952 by the Criminal Tribes (Repeal) Act, 1952 (Act No XXIV of 1952).
2. Kalelkar Committee, 1953
The first Backward Class Commission was appointed on 29 January 1953 under the Chairmanship of Mr. Kakasaheb Kalelkar. This Commission in paragraph 48 of its report suggested that the erstwhile „Criminal Tribes‟ should not be called „Tribes‟ nor should the names „Criminal‟ or „Ex-Criminal‟ be attached to them. They could be called „Denotified Communities‟. The Kalelkar Commission further recommended that “these groups may be distributed in small groups in towns and villages where they would come in contact with other people, and get an opportunity for turning a new leaf. This would help in their eventual assimilation in society”.
Recent Developments:
The Government of lndia constituted the first commission initially in October 2003 for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic tribes. Since this commission could not function properly due to some constraints, in March 2005, the Renke Commission was constituted to complete its mandate. ln July, 2008 this Commission submitted its report and made certain recommendations and based on these recommendations in 2011 a working group constituted by the National Advisory Council proposed a detailed set of recommendations for these communities. After considering the given recommendations by both NAC ond Renke Commission, the Government took a decision in February 2014 to constitute o Notionol Commission for Denotified, Nomodic ond Semi-Nomodic for a period of three years.
The Commission was constituted when the Chairmon Shri. Bhiku Rom Ji ldate ond Member Shri Shravan Singh Rathod joined on 9th Januory 2015.
Gist of Recommendations of the Renke Commission
- Union Government initiate steps to enumerate DNTs in the next census due in 2011
- For implemention of welfare Schemes for DNTs State-wise list of such tribes should b e prepared.
- Advisory Committees may be made at District and State level to assist the socio-economic condition of the DNTs, so that action plan can be drawn for their welfare.
- State Government may take special steps to issue Caste Certificates and ration cards to every member of DNT, and BPL Certificates and to the concerned members, expeditiously.
- Union of India may take special campaign for issue of voter ID to the eligible members of DNT.
- Basic civic amenities be provided to the DNTs living in colonies and clusters.
- Ministry of SJ&E may earmark outlay for the welfare of DNTs.
- Central should modify the existing Housing Schemes in urban/rural areas and earmark specifically for DNTs.
- Special drive be made for awareness of DNTs particularly among women to avail the benefit of various schemes for educational empowerment. Special Residential Schools for DNT Boys and Girls be made to encourage education among them.
- Skill Development Programmes be taken up for DNTs to improve their self employability and wage employment, in collaboration with National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC), the Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India Limited, the Handicrafts and Handlooms Exports Corporations of India Limited.
- States/UTs and Central Ministries should formulate and implement DNT Sub-Plan for DNTs
- Separate Finance and Development Corporation for DNTs, like National Scheduled Castes Finance & Development Corporation, may be set up at the centre.
- Considering the gravity of their plight, there is a need for a separate department for the welfare of DNTs at the State level and separate Ministry/Department for the welfare of DNTs at the Centre.
- It is necessary that the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 be, mutatis mutandis, made applicable to DNTs, and the implementation of the same be reviewed and monitored from time to time.
- Constitution may be amended to include “Scheduled Communities” under Article 330 and Article 332 to enable these communities to be eligible for reservation of seats in the Houses of the People and in the Legislative Assemblies of the States.
- Seats may be reserved in Block/Taluka Panchayats and Zila Pandhayats/Zila Parishads, and the Urban Local Bodies for DNTs wherever there population is concentrated.
- To mobilise additional resources to improve the socio-economic conditions of DNTS, it is suggested that 10% of the funds earmarked for M.P. Local Area Development Fund.
- It is suggested that the DNTs be given 10% reservation in Government jobs even if the total reservation exceeds 50%.
- Research Institutes should be set up by the States/UTs for DNTs.
- A multicultural complex/Academy may be set up in every State/UT to develop, preserve and exhibit the diverse and rich cultural heritage of DNTs.
3. Idate Commission, 2014
In February 2014, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment took a historic decision to constitute a National Commission for De-Notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Tribes for a period of three years. This National Commission was constituted under the Chairmanship of Shri Bhiku Ramji Idate. The Commission gave its report in December, 2017. In its report, the commission prepared draft lists of DNT/NT/SNT Communities. This Commission was tasked among others to identify and proper listing of these communities in different states, to evaluate the progress of development of these communities in the states so that a systematic approach can be developed for the development of these communities.
Based on the recommendations of the Idate Commission, the Government of India constituted the Development and Welfare Board for DNTs, SNTs &NTs (DWBDNCs) in 2019.Acommittee has also been set up by the NITI Aayog to complete the process of identification of the De-Notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DNCs)9 . The survey work of identification of DNT Communities and placing them in a category of SC/ST/OBC is also under process in NITI Aayog and Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI).
The Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNCs) was mandated to formulate and implement welfare and development programmes for these communities. A Scheme for empowerment of DNT communities have been formulated for families having income from all sources of Rs.2.50 lakh or less per annum and not availing any such benefits from similar schemes of Centre Government or the State Government.
Main recommendations of National Commission De-Notified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NCDNT).
- Setting up of a Permanent Commission at the Centre for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities.
- Setting up of a Separate Department/Directorate for DNT/NT communities in States.
- Define NT and DNT. Uniformity in categorization of DNT/NT as SC/ST/OBCs across the States/UTs. Issue of single caste certificate. Sub-quota for DNT/NT/SNT within the quota of SC/ST/OBCs.
- Caste based Census in respect of DNT/NT/SNT communities in 2021 Census.
- Creating awareness among DNT/NT/SNT communities for their inclusion in mainstream.
- Sensitization of different government officials, law enforcing authorities and local bodies so that DNT/NT/SNT do not get differential treatment and benefits of mainstream schemes reach to DNT/NT/SNT communities.
- Schemes focusing DNT/NT/SNT communities for their health, education, housing, traditional art, traditional expertise.
- Livelihood of DNT/NT/SNT communities is largely dependent on the forests. Review "Indian Forest Act" and "Wild Life Protection Act" to give them their natural habitats.
Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED)
On February 15, 2022, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr.Virendra Kumar launched the Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED) for the welfare of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Communities.
The SEED Scheme with an approximate cost of Rs. 200 crore is to be spent over a period of five years starting Financial Year 2021-22 to 2025-26. The four components of the Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs are:
1. Educational empowerment: A component of free Coaching for DNT Students has been envisioned for the educational empowerment of these communities. The objective of this component is to provide good coaching quality for DNT candidates to enable them to appear in competitive examinations/ admission to professional courses like medicine, engineering, MBA etc. for obtaining an appropriate job in public/private Sector. The selection of the candidates for each course will be based on system generated merit list through the online portal. Approximately 6250 students will be provided free coaching under this component in five years. The total funds spend in the five years will be Rs.50 crores.
2. Health Insurance: It is most likely that members of DNT/NT/SNT communities have little or no access to medical facilities and other benefits available under the mainstream health policies. The primary objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to National Health Authority (NHA) in association with State Health Agencies (SHAs) for undertaking providing a health insurance cover of Rs.Five lakhs per family per year to DNT, NT and SNT families as per norms of “Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.” Approximately, 4,44,500 families will be covered under health insurance in five years. The total funds spent in the five years will be Rs.49.0 crores.
3. Facilitate livelihoods: The decline of traditional occupations of DNT/NT/SNT communities has exacerbated their poverty. A focus to support livelihood generation for these communities is required. The primary objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) for undertaking institution building in association with State Rural Livelihoods Mission (SRLM) of state Governments/UTs at community level. A livelihood initiative to enhance productivity growth in key livelihood sectors for employment generation for DNT/NT/SNT communities through investments in institutional support and technical assistance is being carried out. Approximately, 2000 clusters will get benefit under this component in five years.
4. Housing: At present, a very large number of families belonging to the DNT/NT communities are without permanent shelters. In view of their changing socio-economic scenario, a large number of DNT communities are trying to settle themselves and take to alternative professions. It has been found that DNTs are living in slum conditions all over the country both in urban and rural areas. Considering the shortage of houses for DNTs, it has been proposed to earmark a separate outlay for PMAY to support specific importance in providing houses only for DNTs living in rural areas who have not taken benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The admissible support is Rs 1.20 lakhs in plains and 1.30 lakhs in hilly areas (per unit assistance). Approximately, 4,200 houses will be constructed under this component in five years. The total funds spent in the five years will be Rs.50 crores.
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