Context: For the first time, the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) and Tribal Research Institutes (TRI) conducted a comprehensive classification of 268 denotified, semi-nomadic, and nomadic tribes across India after three years of research and study. These tribes were previously thought to have never been classified systematically.
Relevance of the topic:
Prelims: Key facts about De-notified Tribes.
Mains: Need for categorisation of De-notified Tribes.
Key Findings
- 179 communities were recommended for inclusion in the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), or Other Backward Classes (OBC) lists.
- 85 communities are being recommended for classification for the first time ever.
- 63 communities were found to be “not traceable,” possibly due to:
- Assimilation into larger communities.
- Migration to different states.
- Changes in community names.
Why was the Study needed?
- Post-Independence, the Criminal Tribes Act of 1924 was repealed in August 1949, leading to the denotification of "criminal" tribes.
- Despite this, efforts to classify these communities have remained incomplete.
- This has led to their exclusion from welfare schemes for the SCs and STs.
Who are de-notified tribes?
- The term 'De-notified Tribes' stands for all those communities which were once notified under the Criminal Tribes Acts, enforced by the British government between 1871 and 1971. These Acts were repealed by the independent Indian Government in 1952, and these communities were "Denotified". A few of these communities which were listed as de-notified were also nomadic.
- A National Commission for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NCDNT) was constituted in 2006. It was headed by Balkrishna Sidram Renke and submitted its report in June 2008. The Renke commission estimated their population at around 10.74 crore based on Census 2001.
- Not all of these tribes are categorised under SC, ST and OBC. The standing committee report in Parliament has cited that 269 DNT communities are not covered under any reserved categories and thus face exclusion from benefits.
- Previous attempts at classification by various commissions: Several commissions tried to classify denotified, semi-nomadic, and nomadic tribes:
- First Backward Classes Commission (Kaka Kalelkar, 1955)
- Lokur Committee (1965)
- Mandal Commission (1980)
- Renke Commission (2008)
- Idate Commission (2017)
- However, none succeeded in identifying all communities comprehensively.
- Idate Commission's observations:
- In its 2017 report, the Idate Commission listed over 1,200 denotified, semi-nomadic, and nomadic tribes across India. It also highlighted 267 communities that were never classified.
- Commission further urged for immediate completion of the classification process to ensure welfare benefits for these communities.
- Government response:
- A Special Committee was constituted by the Prime Minister’s Office in February 2019 chaired by the Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog, the committee included:
- Bhiku Ramji Idate (Idate Commission).
- Dr. J.K. Bajaj (Centre for Policy Studies).
- Director-General of AnSI.
- The AnSI and TRIs were tasked with carrying out the classification study, the report of which has been submitted recently.
- A Special Committee was constituted by the Prime Minister’s Office in February 2019 chaired by the Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog, the committee included:
Need for Categorisation
- Correct classification of communities: Activists have highlighted that having a lack of a unified and complete list hampers efforts to organise these communities. The present classifications contain inclusion and exclusion errors and sometimes leave out hundreds of communities altogether.
- Access to welfare schemes: Delays in categorisation prevent these communities from accessing the welfare schemes meant for SCs, STs, and OBCs. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment (2022) flagged this issue, emphasising the urgency of the classification process.
- Correcting historical errors: Misclassification of tribes as castes and vice versa during colonial censuses created discrepancies leading to protests.
- Anthropological perspective: Using an anthropological lens, present classifications differ from political or census-based approaches. This ensures accurate representation of social and cultural identities which can be used to frame better and relevant schemes and plan development parameters.
Once the classification is finalised, state governments can initiate processes for inclusion and extend welfare benefits to these communities.
Challenges and concerns
- Political implications: Activists in states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat are debating the grounds and criteria for classification framework as it has implications for reservation policies.
- Debate within the welfare board: Two main approaches have emerged within the Development and Welfare board for denotified communities:
- Approach 1: Complete the classification into SC, ST, or OBC to enable these communities to access existing welfare schemes and reservations.
- Approach 2: It advocates for a separate schedule in the Constitution specifically for denotified tribes, ensuring targeted benefits.
Way Forward
- The Special Committee under the Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog is scrutinising the AnSI and TRI report, based on it, the final report will be prepared for the Government.
- Based on the report, the Government will decide on:
- Approving the recommendations for inclusion in SC, ST, or OBC lists.
- If required, initiating steps for the creation of a separate Constitutional schedule.
- Based on the Government’s decision, appropriate measures will be taken to ensure:
- Access to welfare schemes.
- Correct classification of communities.
- Addressing historical grievances.
In the context of denotified tribes, you mentioned that the repeal occurred in August 1949 in one instance and in 1952 in another. Did the government repeal the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 twice?