Understanding Nomadic and Denotified Tribes in India

Nomadic, Denotified and Semi-Nomadic Communities in India

1. Who Are These Communities?

These groups are communities that historically lived by moving from place to place rather than settling permanently in one area. Their livelihoods traditionally depended on itinerant occupations such as entertainment, pastoralism, hunting, trading, or craftsmanship.

Denotified Tribes (DNTs): These were communities listed as “Criminal Tribes” under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871 by the British, which criminalized their very existence. The Act was repealed in 1952, and they were formally “denotified.”

Nomadic Tribes (NTs): Groups who moved from place to place for livelihood, often engaging in herding, transport, or itinerant trades.

Semi-Nomadic Tribes (SNTs): Communities that oscillated between nomadism and settled life depending on seasonal work and opportunities.

2. Numbers and Diversity

India has over 10 crore people spread across more than 1,200 DNT/NT/SNT communities. They are culturally diverse, with distinct languages, crafts, rituals, and occupations. Many do not fall neatly under Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), or Other Backward Class (OBC) categories, leaving them outside mainstream welfare schemes.

3. Historical Background

Under colonial rule, the Criminal Tribes Act (1871) branded entire communities as hereditary criminals. This stigma lingered even after the Act’s repeal.

After independence, they were often brought under Habitual Offenders Acts in certain states, continuing social prejudice. Commissions like the Renke Commission (2008) and Idate Commission (2017) highlighted their extreme deprivation and recommended special measures.

4. Present Challenges

Lack of Recognition: Many groups remain unclassified or wrongly placed in SC/ST/OBC lists.

Poverty & Exclusion: Without land, stable livelihood, or educational support, they face acute marginalisation.

Stigma & Discrimination: The old “criminal tribe” label continues to affect policing, housing, and social acceptance.

Data Gaps: There is no reliable census or survey data for effective policy design.

Limited Welfare Reach: Welfare benefits often bypass them due to the absence of community certificates.

5. Government Initiatives

Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNC): Established in 2019 under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED): Launched in 2022, focusing on education, health, housing, and livelihoods.

Commission Recommendations: Suggested a permanent commission with statutory backing and dedicated budget allocations.

6. Why Are They Important?

These communities represent some of India’s most marginalized and invisible citizens. Their crafts, oral traditions, and nomadic knowledge systems form a vital part of India’s cultural heritage. Inclusive development of these groups is essential to achieve social justice and constitutional equality.

Quotation

“The measure of a nation’s progress is how it treats its most marginalized communities.”