Context
Recently, during a three-day “Chintan Shivir” (brainstorming session), the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment discussed the inclusion and enumeration of Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs) in the ongoing Census 2027 exercise.
Denotified Tribes (DNTs)
DNTs are communities that were “notified” as “born criminals” during the British regime under a series of laws, primarily the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871.
1. Historical Background
- Criminal Tribes Act, 1871: The British designated several nomadic and semi-nomadic communities as “hereditary criminals.”
- Reason: British considered mobile communities “hard to monitor”, linking mobility to “habitual criminality”.
- Repeal (1952): Post-independence, the Government of India repealed the Act based on the recommendations of the Ayyangar Committee. These tribes were “denotified.”
- Habitual Offenders Act: Unfortunately, many states replaced the 1871 Act with Habitual Offenders Acts, which often continued the social stigma against these groups.
2. Key Committees and Commissions
- Ayyangar Committee (1949): Recommended repeal of the 1871 Act.
- Kaka Kalelkar Commission (also called first OBC Commission-1953): The first commission to recognize the specific hardships of DNTs.
- Renke Commission (2008): Estimated the DNT population to be roughly 10-12 crore and recommended a separate census and sub-quota for them.
- Idate Commission (2014): Recommended the permanent setup of a dedicated Board for DNT welfare.
3. Government Initiatives
- DWBDNC: The Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities was established in 2019 for a period of three years (later extended) under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
- SEED Scheme (Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs):Health Insurance: Through Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY.
- Livelihood: Productivity through clusters/SHGs.
- Housing: Financial assistance via PMAY.
- Education: Coaching for competitive exams (JEE, NEET, Civil Services).
Which of the following best explains the rationale behind the British targeting nomadic communities under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871?
(a) Their involvement in anti-colonial movements
(b) Their refusal to adopt settled agriculture
(c) Their mobility made surveillance and control difficult
(d) Their dominance in trade and commerce
Answer: C
Explanation:
The Criminal Tribes Act, 1871 was rooted in colonial administrative convenience rather than evidence of criminality.
• Core rationale: Nomadic and semi-nomadic communities were highly mobile, making them difficult for the British to track, tax, and police.
• The colonial state equated mobility with suspicion, branding entire communities as “hereditary criminals.”
• This helped the British establish greater control over populations by forcing surveillance, registration, and restrictions on movement.
