Commission prepares draft list of nomadic tribes

TheNational Commission for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi- Nomadic Tribes has prepared a state-wise draft list of these communitiesto integrate these downtrodden groups into the mainstream of development.
This draft list will be discussed with all the stake holders and a final list of DNT/NT communities will be prepared with their habitats and status for their inclusion in Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and central list ofOther Backward Classes (OBC).
"The objective is their socio-economic development so as to suggest welfare measures to uplift these communities and to integrate these downtrodden groups of the society into the mainstream of development," an official statement said.

The commission has also recommended to the states and UTs to form a district-level Grievance Redressal Committee headed by district magistrate to address concerns of the DNT/NT communities andto establish for them a separate directorate to chalk out programmes for their development and allocation of budget etc.
It also recommended constitution of a Corporation or a Board for development of DNT/NT communities.
The commission is planning a region-wise socio-economic survey of all the states through various research institutions.A booklet titled "De-notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Tribes - A Search for New Hope" has been prepared by the commission and is being sent to elected representatives of people, community leaders, state governments and all concernedinviting their suggestions etc.

The De-notified Tribes and Nomadic Tribes are communities which have suffered oppression and humiliation at the hands of India's colonial rulers. The Criminal Tribes Act,1871 notified them as "Criminal Tribes" who were "addicted to systematic commission of non-bailable offences".

Although this Act was repealed after Independence, these communities continue to suffer from social and economic deprivation.
The commission was constituted toprepare a state-wise list of castes belonging to De-notified and Nomadic Tribes which have not been included in the lists of SCs, STs and OBCs and to pursue their case for inclusion in these lists depending on the modalities laid down for the purpose.

It was also asked to identify the place where DNTs are densely populated and alsoevaluate the progress of the development of De-notified and Nomadic Tribes under the union and the states and UTs along with suggestingappropriate measures in respect of De-notified and Nomadic Tribes to be undertaken by the central or state governments.