Denotified tribes seek constitutional recognition, separate Census entry, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Denotified Tribes (DNTs) are advocating for a separate column in the Census 2027 for constitutional recognition.
• The demand includes a separate Schedule, similar to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).
• The Criminal Tribes Act, enacted in 1871, was repealed in 1952, leading to these communities being known as Denotified Tribes.
• The Social Justice Ministry has recommended including DNTs in the upcoming census to the Office of the Registrar-General of India (RGI).

Detailed Insights:

• The call for a separate census column arises from concerns that DNTs are often "lost" within broader classifications without a distinct code.
• Some leaders are also emphasizing the need for recognizing "graded backwardness" within DNTs, advocating for sub-classification alongside a separate Schedule.
• The demand for sub-classification draws from an August 2024 Supreme Court judgment that paved the way for sub-classification of SCs and STs.
• The Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 classified nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes as "criminals," impacting their social status and opportunities.
• The National Commission for Denotified Tribes, led by Bhiku Ramji Idate, identified 1,200 such tribes, with a 2017 report listing 267 DNT communities not classified under SC, ST, or OBC.
• Despite schemes like the SEED scheme, only a small percentage of DNTs receive benefits due to the difficulty in obtaining DNT certificates.
• As of December 2025, the Social Justice Ministry spent ₹69.3 crore on the SEED scheme out of a planned ₹200 crore, due to states not issuing DNT community certificates.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Denotified Tribes (DNTs): Communities formerly classified as "criminal tribes" under British colonial law, now seeking recognition.
• Census: A periodic enumeration of a population, gathering demographic and socio-economic data.
• SEED Scheme: A government initiative aimed at the social and economic empowerment of Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes.