These are communities that are the most vulnerable and deprived.
DNTs (Denotified) are communities that were ‘notified’ as being ‘born criminals’ during the British regime under a series of laws starting with the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871.
These Acts were repealed by the Independent Indian Government in l952, and these communities were "De-Notified".
A few of these communities which were listed as de-notified were also nomadic.
Nomadic and semi-nomadic communities are defined as those who move from one place to another rather than living in one place all the time.
Historically, Nomadic Tribes and De-notified Tribes never had access to private land or home ownership.
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.
Challenges Faced
Lack of Basic Infrastructure Facilities: Like drinking water, shelter, and sanitation facilities are not available to the communities.
Healthcare and education facilities are also not available.
Bad Treatment by Local Administration: Due to the stigma of Criminals bestowed upon them in the past, they are still treated as criminals and tortured by the local administration and police.
Lack of Social Security Cover: Since they are on move frequently, they do not have a permanent settlement.
As a result, they lack social security cover and are not issued Ration Cards, adhar Card, etc. and hence, they are not getting benefits under the government welfare schemes.
The caste categorization is not very clear for these communities, in some states some of the communities are included under the SC category, in some other states they are included under OBCs.
However, most of the groups from these communities do not have caste certificates and hence are not able to avail the benefits of government welfare programs.
The initiative to prepare a policy for Denotified Tribes in Rajasthan indicates recognition of their marginalized status and the need to address their issues and challenges.
The policy aims to extend the benefits of development and welfare schemes to Denotified Tribes, ensuring their inclusion in mainstream society.
The policy will cover not only Denotified Tribes but also nomadic and semi-nomadic communities, recognizing their vulnerability and deprivation.
The 15 communities in Rajasthan that fall under the denotified tribe category will be the primary beneficiaries of the policy.
Previous categorizations of Denotified Tribes, such as Scheduled Tribes and Most Backward Classes, have not provided them with significant reservation benefits.
The policy aims to bring Denotified Tribes into the mainstream by addressing their specific issues and ensuring they receive appropriate support.
Accurate data on the population of Denotified Tribes is considered crucial, and efforts are being made to obtain this information through the census.
The Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur (IDSJ), has been entrusted with the task of preparing the draft policy for Denotified Tribes by the State government.
The policy is expected to play a significant role in improving the socio-economic conditions and overall well-being of Denotified Tribes in Rajasthan.
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