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Denotified Tribes Seek Separate Census Column
The Union Government has assured enumeration of Denotified Tribes in Census 2027, while community leaders demand a separate Census column and constitutional status. The issue relates to classification and welfare recognition of DNTs.
Denotified Tribes (DNTs):
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Definition | Communities labelled as criminal tribes under Criminal Tribes Act 1871 and denotified after its repeal in 1952 |
| Colonial Provision | Criminal Tribes Act 1871 mandated compulsory registration surveillance and movement restrictions |
| Post 1952 Status | Targeted under Habitual Offenders laws and many classified under SC ST or OBC lists |
| Enumeration History | Enumerated in 1911 and 1931 Census; 1931 was last DNT enumeration; post Independence Census enumerated only SC and ST |
| Ayyangar Commission 1949 | Early official study on denotified tribes |
| Renke Commission 2008 | First National Commission on Denotified Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Tribes |
| Idate Commission 2017 | Identified around 1200 DNT communities in SC ST OBC lists and 268 unclassified communities |
| SEED Scheme | Implemented by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment providing support for education livelihood housing and health |
| DNT Welfare Board | Established in place of a permanent constitutional commission for DNTs |