Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT)

More on the Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT)

• Panel said that, delay in locating DNT would increase their suffering and they would not be able to get benefit of the prevailing Schemes meant for the welfare of SC/STs.
• It expects the government to expedite this exercise and finish it in a time-bound manner and sought detailed timelines for the same.

About De-Notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT)

• They are the most neglected, marginalized and economically and socially deprived communities.
• DNTs were “notified” as “born criminals” during the British era in accordance with a number of legislation, beginning with the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871.
• Even after independence, they somehow escaped the attention of our development framework and thus are deprived of the support unlike Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
• Most of them have been living a life of destitution for generations; and still continue to do so with an uncertain and gloomy future.
• Numerical Strength: More than 10 crore Indians from over 1,400 communities are denotified, nomadic or semi-nomadic.
• Idate Commission had categorised 1,262 communities under SC/ST/OBC lists and 267 communities were left uncategorised.
  • However, communities categorised by the Idate Commission are not accurate with many communities appearing in SC list in one State or district and on the ST list in others.

Steps Taken for Upliftment of DNT

SEED (Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs)

• It was launched by Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Aim: Providing free competitive exam coaching, health insurance, housing assistance, and livelihood initiatives.
• An amount of Rs 200 crore has been allocated for this scheme — to be spent over five years from FY2021-22 to FY2025-26.
• Four components:
  • To provide coaching of good quality 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.

National Commission for Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NCDNSNT)

• It is a national commission set under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• The commission appointed to study various developmental aspects of Denotified and nomadic or semi-nomadic tribes in India.
• The Commission was first was set up on 22 November 2003 and reconstituted on 16 March 2005.

Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNC)

• It was constituted in February 2014 to prepare a state-wise list, which submitted its report in 2018, identified 1,262 communities as de-notified, nomadic and semi-nomadic.
• DWBDNC was established under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the purpose of implementing welfare programmes.
• The DWBDNC was constituted on 21st February 2019, under the chairmanship of Bhiku Ramji Idate.

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