Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Krishan Pal Gurjar informed Rajya Sabha today that population data of Nomadic tribes has not been maintained by the Government.
Govt said that the Nomadic Tribes have been identified by the survey done by erstwhile National Commission for De-Notified and Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes.
269 communities which are currently not classified under SC/ST/OBC/Other communities, Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNCs) have been working on classification of these communities.
Further NITI Aayog has assigned the task of ethnographic survey of 62 tribes to the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) to conduct the studies of these communities in different parts of the country. For this purpose an amount of Rs. 2,26,32,500 (Rupees two crore twenty six lakh thirty two thousand five hundred only) has been sanctioned.
For all-round development of Nomadic tribes a Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNCs) has been constituted on 21 Feb 2019 for a period of three years extendable up to 5 years with following terms of reference:
To formulate and Implement Welfare and Development programme as required, for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities.
To identify the locations/areas where these communities are densely populated.
To assess and identify gaps in accessing existing programmes and entitlements and to collaborate with Ministries/Implementing agencies to ensure that ongoing programmes meet the special requirements of De-notified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities.
To monitor and evaluate the progress of the schemes of Government of India and the States/UTs with reference to De-notified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities.
To redress the grievances of DNTs communities and fulfill their expectations.
In order to reduce hardships faced by the DNT Communities under the habitual offenders Act, the Cabinet on 15 Feb 2019 has approved the proposal of Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and accordingly, the matter of repealing/abolishment of Offenders Act was taken up with the Ministry of Home Affairs with the request to hold consultations with the concerned States/UTs where the habitual offenders Act is in the practices.
Pre-Matric Scholarship to DNT Students, post-Matric Scholarship to DNT Students and Nanaji Deshmukh Scheme of Construction of Hostels for DNT Boys and Girls are key schemes which are being implemented by State Government/UT Administrations for the DNTs
(Rusen Kumar is the founder of India CSR Network)
