The ‘De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes’ (DNT) are a very distinctive group among the ethnically diverse population of India. They consist of more than 10 crore people, distributed among around 1,400 different communities according to the latest estimates given by the government.
As the nomenclature suggests, these communities had been initially ‘notified’ as innate criminals under the British rule through the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871. However, the Independent Indian Government repealed those laws in 1952, leading to their status as “De-Notified”. Some DNT communities lead nomadic lives, never settling down in one place for a long time. The historical lack of private land or home ownership adds to the complexities of their social and economic conditions.
Understanding the SEED Programme
The Scheme for Economic Empowerment of Denotified/Nomadic/SemiNomadic (SEED) communities was initiated by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in February 2022 with an intended expenditure of Rs.200 crore over five years starting from 2021-22. The fundamental goal behind SEED is to enhance the financial and social stability of DNTs through various measures. These include offering free competitive exam coaching, providing health insurance to families, supporting income generation initiatives, and assisting in housing.
The Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNCs) oversees its implementation. An online portal has been developed to streamline the registration process and to serve as a critical repository for data on these communities.
Exploring India’s Largest Nomadic Population
South Asia is home to the largest nomadic population globally, with approximately 10% of the Indian population consisting of Denotified and Nomadic Tribes. Out of this, there are around 150 denotified tribes and about 500 different nomadic communities.
Although many DNTs fall under the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Class (OBC) categories, some are not covered by any of these classifications. This varying categorisation has often led to confusion in policy implementation and issues in accessing government services.
Commissions and Committees for DNT Development
There have been several commissions and committees established post-Independence to address the issues faced by DNT communities. These include the Criminal Tribes Inquiry Committee (1947), the Ananthasayanam Ayyangar Committee (1949), the Kaka Kalelkar Commission (1953), and the B P Mandal Commission (1980).
The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) in 2002 acknowledged that DNTs had been incorrectly stigmatized as crime-prone and subjected to exploitation by the law enforcement agencies and societal prejudgments.
Implementation of Developmental Policies for DNT
In recent years, there have been significant efforts to advance the welfare of DNT communities. In 2006, the National Commission for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NCDNT), headed by Balkrishna Sidram Renke, was constituted. They submitted a report in 2008 emphasising these tribes’ unique situation and the lack of constitutional support in comparison to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The Idate Commission, formed in 2015 under Shri Bhiku Ramji Idate’s leadership, took forward this effort by identifying and listing DNT communities in various states and evaluating their developmental progress.
Based on the Idate Commission’s recommendations, the Government of India established the Development and Welfare Board for DNTs, SNTs & NTs (DWBDNCs) in 2019.
Current Schemes for DNT
At present, there are several schemes dedicated to the upliftment of the DNT communities. These include the Dr. Ambedkar Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship for DNT students who do not come under the SC, ST or OBC categories, the Nanaji Deshmukh Scheme of Construction of Hostels for DNT Boys and Girls, and the scheme “”Assistance to Voluntary Organization working for the Welfare of OBCs “” extended specifically for DNT. These schemes aim to integrate DNT communities more effectively into mainstream society by expanding their access to education, housing and welfare services.