You must have often seen people playing songs or dancing in trains during one of your travels. Apart from this, you must have seen snake charmers, banjaras or madaris at all the squares or nooks.
Have you ever wondered who these people are? What is their history, why are they doing such things in their life and what did us or the government do for the upliftment of their lives?
Actually, during the British Government, in the year 1871, a law came which was called the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871.
Due to prejudice, about 200 communities were considered ‘hereditary criminals’ under this law, because some of these people lived their life through looting and snatching etc. Thus these communities became victims of surveillance, imprisonment and gross discrimination.
The policy makers of the time believed that crime is a genetic trait, which is automatically passed from one generation to another. Later, when the country became independent, an All India Criminal Tribes Investigation Committee was formed in the year 1949.
Based on the recommendation of this committee, this law made by the British was removed in 1952. After which these came to be known as non-notified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes.
These people work in a variety of professions such as herding, hunting small animals, food-gathering, dancing, singing, performing acrobatics, and snake charmers and as madari etc.
They became a nomadic life because at that time they used to change their whereabouts to avoid police-administration etc. At times, in search of livelihood, they also kept changing their residence.
For example, when the grass of a particular area was finished grazing by the animals, the pastoral community there moved to some other place.
Many steps were also taken by the governments from time to time after independence for their welfare, but their condition did not change much.
In this way these people became the most neglected, marginalized and economically and socially deprived communities. They are forced to live a life of poverty for generations. Historically they never had access to private land or home ownership.
Now the question arises that why are we suddenly talking about this community today. In fact, on 16th February, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar has launched “Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs”.
This scheme is being called SEED in short. The main four components of this scheme launched for the welfare of these communities are –
To provide good quality coaching to the candidates from these communities so that they can take admission in competitive examinations like civil services, medical, engineering and MBA etc. Today Current Affairs.
To provide health insurance to these communities through Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
To arrange their accommodation through the Prime Minister’s Housing Scheme
Facilitate livelihood initiatives at the community level to create and strengthen small groups of DNT/NT/SNT community institutions. Explain that DNT means Denotified Tribes, NT means Notified Tribes and SNT means Semi Notified Tribes.
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Under this scheme, around Rs 200 crore will be spent over a period of 5 years, from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
The task of implementing the scheme ie its nodal agency has been made by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
This department has also created a portal to implement the scheme. Through this portal, beneficiaries will be able to register themselves as well as track the actual status of their application.
Through this payment can be made to the beneficiaries directly in their account. In addition, this portal will also act as a data storage for these communities.
It is worth noting that in the year 2015, a National Commission for Non-Notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Tribes was also constituted for the welfare of this community.
In this article we mention all information about SEED Scheme Today Current Affairs.
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