Jaipur- On the occasion of Vimukta Diwas (Liberation Day), a significant demand for the inclusion of a separate category for Denotified Tribes (DNTs), Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NTs/SNTs) in the upcoming caste census has been formally put before the Government of India.
The Dalit, Adivasi, Ghumantu Adhikar Abhiyan Rajasthan (DAGAR), a rights organization founded by activist Bhanwar Meghwanshi, has written a detailed letter to the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. The letter urges the office to add a specific column in the census form to ensure an accurate count of these historically marginalized communities.
This move, activists argue, is crucial for formulating targeted welfare policies and ending the historical neglect faced by these groups.
The letter highlights the deep historical injustice faced by these communities. During the British colonial era, the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 notoriously branded nearly 200 communities as "hereditary criminals," leading to severe social ostracization and economic exclusion.
Although this oppressive Act was repealed and the communities were "denotified" on August 31, 1952, the social stigma and discrimination have persisted for generations. Communities such as Banjara, Nat, Kalbelia, Sansi, Bawariya, Gadhia Lohar, and many others continue to grapple with this colonial hangover, often facing harassment from law enforcement and administrative agencies.
A central point of the demand is the current lack of accurate data. Estimates suggest the combined population of DNT, NT, and SNT communities in India is between 10 to 12 crore, constituting roughly 8-10% of the country's total population. However, their data is currently scattered across categories like Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC), depending on the state.
For instance:
The Banjara community is listed as ST in some states and OBC or General in others.
Communities like Sansi and Nat fall under SC in some regions and OBC in others.
The Kalbelia community in Rajasthan is included in the SC list, but their distinct nomadic identity is not separately recorded.
This inconsistent classification makes it impossible to assess their true demographic spread, educational status, health indicators, employment patterns, and living conditions. The letter cites National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data to underscore that these communities still face disproportionate police profiling and live in extreme socio-economic deprivation.
DAGAR's proposal calls for the addition of a distinct column labeled "DNT/NT/SNT" (Denotified Tribes/Nomadic Tribes/Semi-Nomadic Tribes) in the census questionnaire. They argue this will:
Provide Accurate Data: Enable a true assessment of the population size and geographical distribution of these communities.
Enable Targeted Policy-Making: Allow governments to design specific schemes for education, health, housing, and livelihood suited to their unique needs.
Acknowledge Historical Wrongs: Be a significant step towards mitigating generations of discrimination and providing social justice.
Preserve Cultural Heritage: Give official recognition to the unique cultural practices and traditions of these communities.
The choice of Vimukta Diwas to make this appeal is highly symbolic. The day marks their official liberation from the "criminal" tag 72 years ago. By raising this demand now, DAGAR and its founder Bhanwar Meghwanshi are pushing for a tangible step that would translate that legal freedom into socio-economic empowerment.
The organization has expressed its readiness to provide further information and collaborate with the Census authority to ensure the effective implementation of this critical step towards equality and justice for some of India's most vulnerable citizens. The ball is now in the court of the government to consider this demand for the upcoming national headcount.
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