Source: TH
Subject: Miscellaneous
Context: Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs) have demanded a separate column and code in the 2027 caste Census, arguing that they have been politically misclassified within SC, ST and OBC categories.
About Denotified Tribes (DNTs):
Who they are?
- Denotified Tribes, also known as Vimukta Jatis, are communities that were collectively branded as criminal tribes during British rule. These groups are largely nomadic or semi-nomadic, historically dependent on occupations such as pastoralism, salt trading, acrobatics, snake charming, transport services, and artisanal work.
Historical background:
- In 1871, the colonial government enacted the Criminal Tribes Act, declaring entire communities as addicted to crime by birth.
- Members were subjected to constant surveillance, restricted movement, forced registration, and social ostracisation.
- The law was repealed in 1952, after Independence, and the communities were officially denotified, giving rise to the term Denotified Tribes.
- However, the Habitual Offenders framework replaced the colonial law, allowing police to continue targeting these groups, perpetuating stigma.
Key characteristics:
- Extreme social exclusion: Persistent stigma of being born criminals continues in policing and society.
- Administrative invisibility: Many DNTs lack caste certificates, domicile records, or land titles.
- Educational deprivation: In several regions, entire communities have negligible secondary-level education.
- Economic precarity: Seasonal migration, informal labour, and absence of stable livelihoods dominate.
- Political misclassification:
- Most DNTs have been absorbed into SC, ST, or OBC lists, where they are unable to compete with relatively advanced groups.
- Around 260 communities are not classified anywhere, leaving them outside reservation and welfare frameworks.
Significance:
- Ensures DNTs are accurately counted for the first time in India’s history.
- A dedicated Schedule would acknowledge their unique historical injustice, distinct from caste-based discrimination.
