Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)

Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs) Latest News

Denotified tribes, nomadic tribes, and semi-nomadic tribes across the country are coming together to push for a “separate column” for themselves in the 2027 Census.

About Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)

• Denotified Tribes (DNTs) are those communities which were once notified under the Criminal Tribes Acts, enforced by the British Raj between l871 and I947. 
  • Once a tribe becomes “Notified” as criminal, all its members were required to register with the local magistrates, failing which they would be charged with a ‘crime’ under the Indian Penal Code. 
• After Independence, this Act was repealed in 1952, and the communities were “denotified”, hence the name. 
• A few of these communities which were listed as denotified were also nomadic.
  • Nomadic tribes are the communities who usually do not have land and move from one place to another for livelihood.
• The DNTs are among the most neglected, marginalised, and economically deprived communities, with most living a life of destitution.
• Historically, these communities never had access to private land or home ownership and used forests and grazing lands for their livelihood and residential use. 

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Status of DNTs in India

• In India, roughly 10 percent of the population are DNTs.
• In 2014, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment constituted a National Commission for De-notified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NCDNT) under the chairmanship of Bhiku Ramji Idate for a period of three years- 
  • to prepare a state-wise list of castes belonging to  DNTs  
  • to suggest appropriate measures in respect of Denotified and Nomadic Tribes that may be undertaken by the Central Government or the State Government. 
• NCDNT submitted its report on 08.01.2018.  
• As per the report, a total of 1235 communities have been identified as DNTs across the country.
• Based on the Commission’s recommendations, the ministry constituted the Development and Welfare Board for Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNCs) in 2019. 
• The Board has been mandated to formulate and implement welfare and development programmes for these communities. 
• The Renke Commission (2008) was earlier commissioned to identify and list the DNT communities.

Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED)

• It was launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the welfare of DNT communities. 
• It is being implemented by DWBDNCs.
• It has 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 a similar scheme of the Centre or state government.
• Aim: To provide free competitive exam coaching, health insurance, housing assistance, and livelihood initiatives at the community level, and financial assistance for construction of houses will be provided to the members of DNTs Communities.
• An amount of 200 crore has been allocated for this scheme — to be spent over five years from FY2021-22 to FY2025-26.

Source: TH