Denotified Tribes Demand Constitutional Recognition and Separate Census Enumeration

Syllabus: GS2/ Governance/ Social Justice

Context

• Denotified Tribes (DNTs), Nomadic Tribes (NTs), and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (SNTs) across India are demanding a separate column in the 2027 caste census and constitutional recognition through a distinct Schedule, citing long-standing political misclassification, and exclusion from welfare benefits.

Nomadic, Semi Nomadic, and Denotified Tribes (NTs, SNTs, and DNTs)

• Nomadic and semi-nomadic communities are defined as those who move from one place to another rather than living at one place all the time.
• The term ‘De-notified Tribes’ stands for all those communities which were once notified under the Criminal Tribes Acts, enforced by the British Raj between 1871 and 1947. 
  • These Acts were repealed by the Government in 1952, and these communities were “De-Notified”. A few of these communities which were listed as de-notified were also nomadic.
• 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 in India

• It has been estimated that South Asia has the world’s largest nomadic population. 
• In India, roughly 10 percent 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. 
• While the Denotified Tribes have almost settled in various States of the country, the Nomadic Communities continue to be largely nomadic in pursuit of their traditional professions.

Challenges faced by NTs, SNTs, and DNTs

• Lack of Recognition and Documentation: Denotified communities lacking citizenship documents, which makes their identity invisible and causes hindrances in obtaining government benefits, constitutional, and citizenship rights.
• Limited Political Representation: Inadequate representation for these communities making it challenging for them 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.

Steps taken by government

• 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.
• Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED): The scheme was launched in 2022 for the welfare of Denotified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Communities. The components of the Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs are;
  • To provide good quality coaching for DNT candidates to enable them to appear in competitive examinations;
  • To provide Health Insurance to them;
  • To facilitate livelihood initiative at community level; and
  • To provide financial assistance for construction of houses for members of these communities.

Source: TH