The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED) to empower Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DNTs). The scheme focuses on four key areas: educational empowerment through financial assistance for coaching to improve access to educational institutions and employment; health through the distribution of Ayushman Cards; livelihoods through the formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in DNT clusters; and land and housing by facilitating access to housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Grameen and Urban) and other government schemes. As of July 2025, 3,438 SHGs, comprising 46,067 DNT members, have been formed. While the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) does not maintain segregated data on DNT participation in SHGs, the Development and Welfare Board for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Communities (DWBDNC) has been established to further the development and welfare of these communities. The National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC), the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), and Non-Government Organizations have been engaged as Partner Agencies by the Board for direct community engagement. This information was provided by the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri B.L. Verma, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Social Justice Empowerment: The Indian government ministry responsible for the Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs SEED and other social justice initiatives.
Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs SEED: A scheme launched by the Ministry of Social Justice Empowerment for the empowerment of Denotified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Communities.
Ayushman Cards: Cards being distributed among DNT communities for health benefits.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Grameen and Urban: Government schemes facilitating houses to DNT communities.
National Rural Livelihood Mission NRLM: A national level program, which does not maintain segregated information of DNT people into SHGs at the national level.
Development and Welfare Board for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Communities DWBDNC: A board constituted by the Ministry for development and welfare of Denotified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Communities.
National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation NBCFDC: One of the two corporations engaged as Partner Agencies by the Development and Welfare Board for direct community engagement of De notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic communities.
National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation NSFDC: One of the two corporations engaged as Partner Agencies by the Development and Welfare Board for direct community engagement of De notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic communities.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: SCHEME FOR
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF DNTs (SEED)
Posted On: 23 JUL 2025 2:26PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry has launched the ‘Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED)’ for empowerment of
the DNT communities through
i. Educational Empowerment by giving them financial assistance for free coaching which will
enable them getting admission in good institutes/employment in public and private sector;
ii. Health: Ayushman Cards are being distributed among DNT communities;
iii. Livelihoods: SHGs have been formed in DNT clusters to enable them improve their economic
condition;
iv. Land and Housing: Facilitates to provide houses to DNT communities under Pradhan Mantri
Awas Yojana (Grameen and Urban), other government schemes.
So far 3,438 Self Help Groups (SHGs) having 46,067 members exclusively of De-notified, Nomadic and
Semi Nomadic Communities have been formed. Further, National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) does
not maintain any segregated information of DNT people into SHGs at the national level.
The Ministry has constituted Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic
Communities (DWBDNC) for development and welfare of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic
Communities.
Two Corporations namely, National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC)
and National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) and Non- Government
Organizations have been engaged as Partner Agencies by the Board for direct community engagement of De-
notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic communities.
This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND
EMPOWERMENT, SHRI B.L. VERMA, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
*****
VM
(Rajya Sabha US Q408)
(Release ID: 2147213)