Why in the News?

• After three years of research, the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) and Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) have for the first time systematically categorized 268 denotified, semi-nomadic, and nomadic tribes across India.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Historical Background (About Denotified Tribes, Various Commissions, etc.)
• Key Findings of the Report (Major Highlights, Way Forward, etc.)

Historical Background and the Need for Classification:

• Denotified tribes were once labelled as "criminal" under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1924, which was repealed in 1949.
• However, since then, various commissions—including the Kaka Kalelkar Commission (1955), the Mandal Commission (1980), the Renke Commission (2008), and the Idate Commission (2017)—have attempted but failed to fully classify these communities.
• The Idate Commission’s 2017 report identified 1,200 denotified, semi-nomadic, and nomadic tribes and highlighted 267 unclassified communities.
• This led the Indian government to form a Special Committee under the NITI Aayog in 2019, which assigned AnSI and TRIs the task of ethnographic classification.

Key Findings of the Study:

• 268 communities classified: For the first time, these tribes have been systematically documented.
• 179 communities recommended for SC/ST/OBC inclusion: This inclusion aims to provide reservation benefits.
• 63 communities found untraceable: These groups may have merged with other communities, changed names, or migrated.
• Political and legal implications: The classification has sparked debates on reservations and special status.

Impact on Reservation and Welfare Policies:

• With this classification, denotified tribes could access government welfare schemes reserved for SCs, STs, and OBCs, including education and employment opportunities.
• However, this move has also raised political concerns.
• There are two competing views within the Development and Welfare Board for Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Communities:
• Support for Inclusion in SC/ST/OBC Lists
  • Ensures access to education, jobs, and social welfare schemes.
  • Provides legal recognition and identity to these communities.
• Demand for a Separate Reservation Category
  • Advocates argue that denotified tribes should have their own classification, similar to SCs and STs, rather than being merged into existing categories.
  • Some fear that merging them into SC/ST/OBC groups might dilute reservation benefits for other communities.

Challenges and Concerns:

• Political Controversies: Activists in states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat are questioning the basis of classification, fearing it may impact existing reservation structures.
• Delays in Implementation: Despite multiple commissions advocating for classification, government action has been slow, delaying welfare benefits.
• Historical Misclassification: Earlier census data mistakenly categorized some tribes as castes, creating confusion over their identity and legal status.

Way Forward:

• The AnSI and TRIs have submitted their final report to the Special Committee under the NITI Aayog.
• Currently, the committee is reviewing recommendations before preparing a final report for the government.
• If the recommendations are accepted:
  • State governments will have an easier pathway to include these tribes in reservation lists.
  • New welfare policies could be introduced to address socio-economic inequalities faced by these communities.
  • The debate on creating a separate category for denotified tribes may gain momentum.

Conclusion:

• The classification of denotified, semi-nomadic, and nomadic tribes is a crucial step toward rectifying historical injustices and ensuring their access to government welfare schemes.
• However, the implementation process remains complex, with political and legal challenges ahead.
• The government’s final decision on this matter will shape the socio-political landscape of reservation policies in India.