The Impact of Classifying Denotified Tribes:/अधिसूचित जनजातियों के वर्गीकरण का प्रभाव:

The Impact of Classifying Denotified Tribes:

How many denotified, semi-nomadic, and nomadic tribes have been comprehensively categorised?

The Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) and Tribal Research Institutes (TRI) have, for the first time, comprehensively categorised 268 denotified, semi-nomadic, and nomadic tribes. Of these, 179 communities have been recommended for inclusion in the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) lists. Notably, 85 communities are being classified for the first time. The study also revealed that 63 previously unclassified communities were “not traceable,” possibly due to assimilation, migration, or name changes.

What will be the impact on SC, ST, and OBC reservations?

• The classification will have a significant impact on reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs. By including these communities, it ensures they can access the benefits and reservation provisions meant for their welfare. However, some activists are questioning whether these tribes should be categorised under SC, ST, or OBC, or if a separate classification should be created for them, potentially affecting reservation dynamics.

Why was the study needed?

• Since the repeal of the Criminal Tribes Act in 1949, various commissions, including the First Backward Classes Commission (1955), Lokur Committee (1965), Mandal Commission (1980), Renke Commission (2008), and Idate Commission (2017), have attempted to classify these communities. However, none were able to complete the task comprehensively. The Idate Commission reported in 2017 that 267 communities had never been classified and recommended urgent action.
• In 2019, the Prime Minister’s Office formed a Special Committee to address this issue, and the AnSI and TRIs began their work in 2020. Their report, submitted in 2023, represents the first thorough categorisation effort.

What is the need for categorisation?

• The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment noted in 2022 that delays in categorisation deprived these communities of the benefits of welfare schemes meant for SCs, STs, and OBCs. Misclassification during early colonial censuses, where tribes were often classified as castes and vice versa, exacerbated the issue. A complete and accurate list is critical to organising these communities and ensuring equitable access to resources and benefits.

What will be the impact?

• Political Implications: Activists in states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat are raising concerns about categorising these tribes under SC, ST, or OBC, with reservations becoming a contentious issue.
• Diverging Opinions: Some advocate for completing the classification process to integrate these tribes into the SC, ST, or OBC lists. Others propose creating a new schedule in the Constitution specifically for denotified tribes.
• State-Level Inclusion: The recommendations will enable State governments to initiate the inclusion process more effectively.

What’s next?

The ethnographic study by AnSI and TRIs has been submitted to the Special Committee led by the Vice-Chairperson of the NITI Aayog. The committee is reviewing the recommendations and preparing a final report. Once complete, the Government will decide on the appropriate course of action.