The National Commission for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-nomadic Tribes has been reconstituted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to look into various aspects of the socio-economic development of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-nomadic Tribes. It has been asked to submit its report within one year of the appointment of the Chairman. Shri Balakrishna Sidram Renka has been appointed as Chairman, Shri Laxmanbhai K. Patani, Member and Shri Lakshmi Chand Member Secretary of the Commission. They assumed office on February 6, 2006.

The terms of reference of the Commission are:

a.       To specify the economic interventions required for raising the living standards of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes by asset creation and self-employment opportunities;

2. To recommend measures to utilize the existing channeling agencies set up for the economic development of SC/STs and OBCs for extending an economic development package of these groups, keeping in view their specific requirements;
3. To identify programmes required for their education, development and health;

To make any other connected or incidental recommendation, that the Commission deem necessary.

4. The Commission has invited the members of public representatives, bodies, interest groups, NGOs to share their views on the issues contained in its Terms of Reference. According to a Public Notice issued by the Commission, communications in this behalf are to be addressed to Chairman or Member Secretary of the Commission preferably by July 30, 2006. The communications can be sent either through E-mail at lakshmi.chand@nic.in or on Fax No. 011 - 24369763 or through Postal representation on the address of the Commission (Gate No. 30, IInd Floor, J.N. Stadium, Lodi Road, New Delhi – 110 003) or through personal hearing.

The Commission has been set up to study the problems of Denotified communities and Nomadic and Semi-nomadic communities in order to bring them into the mainstream of national life. The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution in its report has observed that, "The Denotified tribes/ communities have been wrongly stigmatized as crime prone and subjected to highhanded treatment as well as exploitation by the representatives of law and order as well as by the general society. Some of them are included in the lists of Scheduled Tribes and others are in the lists of Scheduled Castes and lists of backward classes. The special approach to their development has been delineated and emphasized in the Reports of the Working Groups for the Development of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes in successive Plans and also in the Annual Reports of the Commissioners for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the National Commission for Backward Classes. There are also special reports available on denotified tribes……The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs should collate all these materials and recommendations contained in the report of the working groups and the reports of the National Commissions and other reports referred to and strengthen the programmes for the socio-economic development, educational development, generation of employment opportunities, social liberation and full rehabilitation of denotified tribes".

As regards Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic communities, Nomadism is taken as a way of life. Illustrations of shepherds in the higher elevations of Himalayas, moving in search of fresh pastures and to escape the rigours of climate, khanabadoshes (wandering tribes), Koravans, the most numerous of Khanabadoshes, Gadia Lohar, Gujjars, Kalbelia Jogis, Kanjars, Sansis etc. have been cited. The Advisory Committee on the Revision of the Lists of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes- 1965 (Lokur Committee) observed, "We are inclined to feel that it would be in the best interest of these communities if they are taken out from the list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and treated exclusively as a distinctive group, with development schemes specially designed to suit their dominant characteristics".

Presently a few of the Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-nomadic ‘Tribes’ have been specified as Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribes and almost all the remaining communities have been specified by respective State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations as Other Backward Classes. There may be a few Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic ‘Tribes’ who are not placed in any of these categories. Some of them would also be in the central list of Other Backward Classes. The National Commission would identify them, study their socio-economic and educational needs and recommend to the government specific interventions for their overall development.

MLD:K:sje-back-4(nomadic & semi-nomadic tribes)(9.6.06)