National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NCDNSNT)

About National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NCDNSNT)

The Government in July 2014 had constituted NCDNT for a period of three years.
It was set up to prepare a State-wise list of castes belonging to Denotified and Nomadic Tribes and to suggest appropriate measures in respect of Denotified and Nomadic Tribes that may be undertaken by the Central Government or the State Government.
It was set up to study various developmental aspects of denotified and nomadic or semi-nomadic tribes in India.
In its report submitted to the Government, the Commission recommended the setting up of a Permanent Commission for these communities.
Since most of the DNTs are covered in SC, ST or OBC, constitution of a Permanent Commission will not be very effective in implementing development programmes, rather it will look at grievance redressal and will therefore be in conflict with mandate of existing commissions for SCs., STs and OBCs.
The Government has therefore decided to set up a Development and Welfare Board under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 under the aegis of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the purpose of implementing development and welfare programmes for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-nomadic Communities.
The Commission was first set up on 22 November 2003 and reconstituted for several times including in 2006 and 2014.

Development and Welfare Board for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNCs)

It was constituted in 2019.

The terms of reference of the Development and Welfare Board for the Denotified, Nomadic and SemiNomadic Communities are as under:

To formulate and implement Welfare and Development programmes, as required, for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities.
To identify the locations/areas where these communities are densely populated.
To assess and identify gaps in accessing existing programmes and entitlements.
To collaborate with Ministries/implementing agencies to ensure that ongoing programmes meet the special requirements of Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities.
To monitor and evaluate the progress of the schemes of Government of India and the States/UTs with reference to Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities.

Composition of the board

Chairperson, to be appointed by the Government of India.
Chief Executive Officer of the Board in the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India – Member Secretary.
Joint Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment dealing with the subject – Member.
Representative of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs – Member.
Representative of the Department of School Education – Member.
Five eminent persons from or working in, the field of Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities to be nominated as Members by the Government of India.

Other initiatives related to DNCs

A Committee has also been set up by the NITI Aayog to complete the process of identification of the De-Notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DNCs).
The survey work of identification of DNT Communities and placing them in a category of SC/ST/OBC is also under process in NITI Ayog and Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI)

Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNT Communities (SEED)

It is a special scheme for welfare of this community having following four components:

To provide coaching of good quality for DNT candidates to enable them to appear in competitive examinations.
To provide Health Insurance to them.
To facilitate livelihood initiative at community level; and
To provide financial assistance for construction of houses for members of these communities.

Government has so far launched following welfare schemes for the benefits to DNTs: