This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1460, answered on July 29, 2025, regarding the Gihar community. The question concerned the community's classification as Scheduled Caste in some states and Scheduled Tribe in others, and the use of the term "Kanjar," which the community finds offensive.
The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale, stated that the Kanjar community is notified as Scheduled Caste in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, and the Union Territory of Delhi. The community has not been notified as Scheduled Tribe in any state or Union Territory.
The response further clarifies the process for modifying Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe lists, which requires proposals initiated by the concerned State Government/UT administration with full justification. Currently, no proposal has been received from any State Government/Union Territory to substitute the word "Kanjar" with "Gihar."
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: The Indian government ministry responsible for social justice and empowerment.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
Gihar Community: A nomadic tribe residing in various states of India.
Scheduled Caste: A group of historically disadvantaged communities recognized by the Indian government for affirmative action.
Scheduled Tribe: A group of indigenous communities recognized by the Indian government for affirmative action.
Kanjar: A term used to refer to the Gihar community, considered derogatory by them.
Ramdas Athawale: Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment.
Chhattisgarh: One of the states where the Kanjar community has been notified as a Scheduled Caste.
Jharkhand: One of the states where the Kanjar community has been notified as a Scheduled Caste.
Madhya Pradesh: One of the states where the Kanjar community has been notified as a Scheduled Caste.
Rajasthan: One of the states where the Kanjar community has been notified as a Scheduled Caste.
Uttar Pradesh: One of the states where the Kanjar community has been notified as a Scheduled Caste.
West Bengal: One of the states where the Kanjar community has been notified as a Scheduled Caste.
Uttarakhand: One of the states where the Kanjar community has been notified as a Scheduled Caste.
Delhi: A Union Territory of India where the Kanjar community has been notified as a Scheduled Caste.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1460
TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2025
GIHAR COMMUNITY
tr460. sHRr RAKESH RATHOR:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Gihar community, a nomadic tribe residing in various States of the country and
traditionally eaming their livelihood through crafts and forest-related works, has been classified
as Scheduled Caste in some states and Scheduled Tribe in some other States, is addressed as
"Kanjar" in many States, which hurts their sentiments;
(b) whether the use of the word Kanjar for the Gihar community may be considered a
castespecific derogatory word; and
(c) if so, in view of the sentiments of the Gihar community whether the Government proposes to
stop the use of the word "Kanjar" and issuing a directive to write only the word "Gihar" in
certificates and documents?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)
(a) to (c): Kanjar community has been notified as Scheduled Caste in the states of Chattisgarh,
Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Uttarakhand and in the
Union Territory of Delhi. This community has not been notified as Scheduled Tribe in any of the
States and Union Territories.
Govemment has laid down modalities for deciding claims for inclusion in, exclusion from
and other modifications in the lists of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under which the
concerned State Government/ UT administration is required to initiate the proposal for
modification in the lists with full justification. At present, there is no proposal from any of the
State Governments/ Union Territories for substitution of word 'Kanjar' with 'Gihar'.
*{.**{.