This article highlights the growing frustration among Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT/NT/SNT) communities in India due to the government's slow progress in addressing their concerns.
Key issues:
Lack of implementation of Idate Commission recommendations: The government has not fully implemented the recommendations of the Idate Commission, which called for a permanent commission for DNTs/NTs/SNTs, a caste census, and a sub-quota within existing reservation schemes.
Difficulties in obtaining caste certificates: Many DNT/NT/SNT individuals face difficulties in obtaining caste certificates, which are crucial for accessing government schemes and benefits.
Slow implementation of SEED scheme: The Scheme for the Economic Empowerment of DNT/NT/SNT communities, despite its launch in 2022, has seen slow implementation.
DNT/NT/SNT communities have faced historical discrimination and marginalization, including being labeled as "criminal tribes" by the British.
What is SEED?
The Scheme for Economic Empowerment of Denotified/Nomadic/SemiNomadic (SEED) communities was launched in February 2022 by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
It aims to provide free competitive exam coaching to these students, to provide health insurance to families, to uplift clusters of these communities through livelihood initiatives, and to provide financial assistance for housing.
Components:
Free coaching to students from these communities for Civil Services, entry to professional courses like medicine, engineering, MBA, etc.
Health Insurance through PMJAY of National Health Authority.
Livelihoods to support income generation
Housing (through PMAY/IAY).
Who are De-Notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes?
These are communities that are the most vulnerable and deprived.
DNTs 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These Acts were repealed by the Independent Indian Government in l952, and these communities were "De-Notified".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.
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