Context:
The Union Government informed the Rajya Sabha that it is not considering any proposal to classify Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT/NT/SNT) into SC, ST or OBC categories afresh. This decision comes despite earlier efforts to review their status and long-standing demands for clearer categorisation.
-
-
- The Centre’s response indicates that it is not pursuing fresh inclusion or movement of these communities into the SC, ST, or OBC lists, even though several committees—including the Idate Commission (2017) and the AnSI study (completed in 2023)—recommended such classification.
- The Centre’s response indicates that it is not pursuing fresh inclusion or movement of these communities into the SC, ST, or OBC lists, even though several committees—including the Idate Commission (2017) and the AnSI study (completed in 2023)—recommended such classification.
-
About Denotified Tribes:
-
-
- Denotified Tribes are communities that were once labelled as “criminal tribes” under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871, a discriminatory colonial law that branded many nomadic groups as hereditary offenders.
- The Act was repealed in 1952, and these communities were officially “denotified.” However, stigmatization, police harassment, socio-economic marginalisation, lack of land rights, and exclusion from welfare schemes have persisted for decades.
- Today, DNTs, Nomadic Tribes (NTs), and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (SNTs) are spread across different social categories — SC, ST, and OBC — depending on state-level classifications, creating uneven access to benefits.
- Denotified Tribes are communities that were once labelled as “criminal tribes” under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871, a discriminatory colonial law that branded many nomadic groups as hereditary offenders.
-
About Anthropological Survey of India Recommended:
-
-
- The ethnographic study commissioned in 2019 and completed by the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) in 2023 examined 268 communities historically associated with DNT/NT/SNT categories.
The report recommended:- Fresh classification for 85 communities,
- Reclassification for nine communities, and
- Fresh classification for 85 communities,
- This study was part of a larger initiative led by the Development and Welfare Board for Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNC) and was based on earlier findings, including the Idate Commission (2017).
- The ethnographic study commissioned in 2019 and completed by the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) in 2023 examined 268 communities historically associated with DNT/NT/SNT categories.
-
Concerns Raised by Experts and Civil Society:
Despite the government’s stand, several concerns persist:
-
-
- Fragmented Classification: Being divided across SC/ST/OBC lists results in unequal access to benefits. Some DNTs receive full support, while others remain outside formal protection.
- Lack of Reliable Data: No comprehensive national survey exists on DNT socio-economic status, making policy design difficult.
- Continuing Stigma: Even today, many DNT groups face police profiling, lack of identity documents, and limited political representation.
- Inadequacy of Existing Schemes: Implementation gaps, low awareness, and budgetary limitations restrict the impact of welfare initiatives.
- Fragmented Classification: Being divided across SC/ST/OBC lists results in unequal access to benefits. Some DNTs receive full support, while others remain outside formal protection.
-
Conclusion:
The Centre’s statement that it is not considering a proposal to classify Denotified Tribes separately reflects constitutional limitations and administrative complexity. However, the historical injustices faced by DNTs and persistent social exclusion highlight the need for robust welfare delivery, targeted support, and improved data collection.
