The government proposes to create an enabling environment for the social empowerment of the de-notified tribes so that they could utilise reservation benefits in education and employment.
A nation-wide survey of de-notified tribes’ settlements is to be conducted to form the basis for introducing a suitable shelter programme for them. They could be entitled to free or subsidised housing under various government schemes.
Over 200 communities were identified by the British as ‘criminal tribes’ under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871. However, the Act was annulled after Independence and the communities identified under this legislation were referred to as de-notified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes.
There is no authentic data on these tribes and no census has been conducted. They are found in almost all the States and belong mostly to the Other Backward Classes category in some large States and in Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes categories in other States.
Some of them are not covered by any of the three categories. Even those covered under the three categories are often not able to avail the benefits because either they do not have caste certificates or because quotas are exhausted by non-nomadic/non de-notified communities in the reserved categories. A number of States have not even prepared lists of the de-notified or nomadic communities.
According to the 12th Plan documents, an effective way of extending developmental support for them will be to provide special and relevant support and facilities for them within the existing facilities for the ST, SC and OBC categories, as applicable. Access to scholarships and hostel facilities need to be given priority.
Also, capacity-building programmes for skill development and marketing and loans for economic empowerment should be given priority, say the documents.
Specific strategies and mechanisms will also be put in place to ensure flow of funds for the welfare and development of these tribes.
An effective rehabilitative approach, supported with an equally effective plan for the socio-economic development of the de-notified tribes needs to be adopted and implemented, especially by establishing habitations / villages for them. This will be given emphasis during the 12th Plan period.
A proportion of the current outlay for Indira Awaas Yojana should be earmarked for these communities in addition to the aid to construct dwelling units by receiving priority under the on-going housing programmes, the documents suggest.
The documents favoured the creation of a cluster development fund for assisting the de-notified tribes for the construction of houses, for providing land to them and for creating infrastructure. Skill development initiatives of the States and the Central government need to give priority to cover the unemployed youth among these tribes with a view to providing them with employable skills.
