Interim Budget 2019: New panel for welfare of nomadic communities

Niti Aayog to identify ‘most deprived citizens’

NEW DELHI, 15/10/2008: A woman in her traditaional dress during Banjara Rally at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on October 15, 2008. A rally of de-notified nomadic tribes was organised at Jantar Mantar to demand early implementation of the Renke Commission report giving facilities and concessions to the community across the country. The rally, attended by people belonging to various de-notified nomadic tribes from across the country, was organised under the leadership of the Member of Parliament from Yavatmal, Harising Rathod, who is himself a Banjara. Photo: Sandeep Saxena

The Centre will form a welfare panel for nomadic, semi-nomadic and de-notified communities, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal announced in Friday’s Budget speech.

“Our government is committed to reach the most deprived citizens of this country…These communities are hard to reach, less visible, and therefore, frequently left out,” said Mr. Goyal.

To start with, a committee will be set up under Niti Aayog to complete the task of identifying de-notified, nomadic and semi-nomadic communities, especially as they move from place to place in search of a livelihood. The committee will follow up on the work of the Renke Commission and the Idate Commission.

A Welfare Development Board will also be set up under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to design and implement programmes for these hard-to-reach communities, Mr. Goyal said.

He said a substantial increase is proposed in the allocation for welfare of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.