Census 2027 and Denotified Tribes: Demand for Separate Column

Context

In preparation of Census 2027, the number of denotated, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes are insisting on separate enumeration to bring to an end decades of invisibility and political misclassification.

Key Highlights

• India is due to hold a 2027 nationwide caste enumeration, the first since that of 1931.
• Demanding a separate column and code in the Census are Denotified Tribes (DNTs), Nomadic Tribes (NTs) and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (SNTs).
• They claim that years of political dislocation by being misclassified as SC, ST and OBC have denied them special welfare and representation.

Historical Background: From Criminalisation to Denotification

• In 1871, the Criminal tribes act was passed by the British that categorized the whole community as criminal by birth.
• The Act enabled:
  • Surveillance.
  • Forced settlements.
  • Social stigma.
• The stigma remained even though it was later repealed in 1952, and these communities were then referred to as denotified tribes.
• Most of them were historically nomadic because of:
  • Resistance to colonial rule.
  • Loss of land and livelihood.

Present Status and the Problem of Invisibility

• According to Idate Commission (2017), the following were identified:
  • Of approximately 1,200 denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes.
  • Approximately 267 communities are not covered by SC, ST, and OBCs lists at all.
  • Over time the majority of the DNTs are combined into SC, ST or OBC categories.
• Leaders argue this has led to:
  • Loss of political voice.
  • Failure to keep up with more powerful communities.
  • Further marginalisation (socio-economically).

Demand for a Separate Column and Schedule

• DNT leaders seek:
  • Another column and code in Census 2027.
  • A unique constitutional Schedule, like SCs and STs.
• Of separate enumeration, they dread:
  • their population will not be statistically visible.
  • Their particular vulnerabilities will still be disregarded in policy design.

Graded Backwardness and Sub-Classification

• Even the community leaders are insisting on sub-classification in DNTs.
• This is following the decision of the Supreme Court of August 2024 which permits sub-classification of SCs and STs.
• The rationale includes:
  • The acknowledgement of the distinctions between settled and nomadic DNTs.
  • Dealing with graded backwardness in the group.
• Nomadic DNTs remain:
  • Educationally deprived.
  • Economically unstable.
  • Politically unrepresented.

Governance and Welfare Challenges

• In spite of plans such as the SEED (Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs):
  • The spending in five years only amounted to Rs 69.3 crore out of planned Rs 200 crore.
• Major hurdle:
  • States and UTs do not issue DNT community certificates.
  • Stigma is perpetuated by continued profiling of police suspects under the laws in place on habitual offenders.

Way Forward

• Census 2027 must:
  • Offer distinct enumeration and coding of DNTs.
  • Produce quality population statistics.
• The government should:
  • Design a separate constitutional structure of DNTs.
  • Make sure that there is issuance of certificates and implementation of the schemes.
  • Planned quotas and welfare programmes.

Source: The Hindu

Mains PYQ

(Q) What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs). (2017)

• The last census of caste in India was 1931.
• The demand by DNTs is to break statistical invisibility.
• Social stigma has been influenced by criminalisation during the era of colonialism.
• Ruling of the Supreme Court affirmation on sub-classification of graded backwardness.
• Welfare, representation and social justice do depend on accurate data.

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