Context:
Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs) are demanding a separate classification in the 2027 Census to address historical stigma and improve targeted welfare delivery.
Key Highlights:
- Government Response
- The Union government has assured DNT community leaders that enumeration will take place in the 2027 Census.
- Historical Background
- Under the Criminal Tribes Act (CTA), 1871, several communities were labeled as “criminal by birth”.
- The law was repealed in 1952, leading to the denotification of these tribes.
- Current Issues
- DNT communities are spread across SC, ST, and OBC categories, leading to administrative inconsistencies.
- Lack of a separate classification complicates welfare delivery and identity recognition.
- Policy Developments
- The Idate Commission identified around 1,200 DNT communities and recommended targeted welfare mechanisms.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Denotified Tribes (DNTs)
- Communities earlier notified as “criminal tribes” under colonial law but later denotified after independence.
- Criminal Tribes Act, 1871
- Colonial legislation that stigmatised several communities as hereditary criminals.
- SEED Scheme
- Government initiative providing education, livelihood, housing, and health support to DNT communities.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Social Justice Issues
- Continued social stigma and marginalisation despite legal denotification.
- Poor access to education, employment, and welfare services.
- Administrative Challenges
- Absence of a distinct policy framework for DNTs.
- Fragmented classification across SC, ST, and OBC lists.
- Way Forward
- Introduce a separate Census category for DNTs.
- Strengthen institutional mechanisms for targeted welfare.
- Improve documentation and identity recognition.
UPSC Relevance:
- GS Paper I: Social groups and marginalised communities.
- GS Paper II: Welfare policies and social justice.