## Policy Summary: Welfare of Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs, NTs, SNTs)
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 385, addressed to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on July 22, 2025, regarding the welfare of Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes.
**Key Initiatives and Responses:**
* **Implementation of National Commission Recommendations:** The government has established the Development and Welfare Board for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNCs) in February 2019, based on the recommendations of the National Commission. The Scheme for Economic Empowerment of Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (SEED) is being implemented by DWBDNCs.
* **Classification of DNT, NT, and SNT Communities:** A committee chaired by the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog was formed to classify 268 communities. Ethnographic studies of these communities have been conducted by NITI Aayog through the Anthropological Survey of India and Tribal Research Institutes of Gujarat, Kerala, and Odisha.
* **District Level Complaint Committees:** The Ministry has not issued any directives to states regarding the establishment of district-level complaint committees for DNTs, NTs, and SNTs.
* **Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED):** Since its launch in 2022, the SEED scheme has disbursed the following funds:
* Financial Year 2023-24: Rs. 15.00 crore
* Financial Year 2024-25: Rs. 35.16 crore
* Financial Year 2025-26 (current): Rs. 3.20 crore
These funds have supported:
* 46,000 beneficiaries under the livelihood component
* 551 beneficiaries under the free coaching component
* 7,000 beneficiaries under the health insurance component.
Key Entities Referenced
Denotified, Nomadic and SemiNomadic Tribes: Refers to communities historically marginalized and subject to the Criminal Tribes Act, now a focus of government welfare initiatives.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: The Indian government ministry responsible for the welfare, social justice, and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized groups, including Denotified, Nomadic and SemiNomadic Tribes.
National Commission for Denotified Nomadic and SemiNomadic Tribes: A commission established to make recommendations for the welfare and development of Denotified, Nomadic and SemiNomadic Tribes.
OBC: Other Backward Classes, a collective term used by the Indian government to classify castes which are educationally or socially disadvantaged.
SC: Scheduled Castes, official term for castes formerly considered 'untouchable' and subject to discrimination.
ST: Scheduled Tribes, official term for indigenous communities in India recognized as historically disadvantaged.
Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs SEED: A government scheme launched in 2022 aimed at the economic empowerment of Denotified Nomadic and SemiNomadic Tribes.
NITI Aayog: The National Institution for Transforming India, a policy think tank of the Government of India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.385
TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2025
WELFARE OF DENOTIFIED, NOMADIC AND SEMI-NOMADIC TRIBES
385. SHRI JOYANTA BASUMATARY:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) Whether the Government proposes to implement the recommendations of the National
Commission for Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes and if so, the detailed timeline
of implementation and if not, the reasons therefor;
(b) the steps being taken by the Government to classify DNT, NT and SNT communities that
have not been classified as OBC, SC and ST;
(c) whether all States in the North Eastern Region (NER) have set up district level complaint
committees for DNTs, NTs and SNTs, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
and
(d) the details regarding the funds disbursed and beneficiaries under the Scheme for Economic
Empowerment of DNTs (SEED) since it was launched in 2022, year-wise?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI B.L.VERMA)
(a): Based on the recommendations of National Commission for De-notified, Nomadic and
Semi-Nomadic Tribes, the Government has constituted a Development and Welfare Board for
De-notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Communities (DWBDNCs) in February, 2019.
Further, a scheme namely, Scheme for Economic Empowerment of De-notified and Nomadic
Tribes (SEED) was launched by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment which is
being implemented by DWBDNCs.
(b): A committee under chairmanship of Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog was constituted for
classification of 268 communities. The Ethnographic Study of these communities has been done
by NITI Aayog through the Anthropological Survey of India and Tribal Research Institutes of
Gujarat, Kerala and Odisha.
(c): No communication to the States have been issued for setting up District Level Complaint
Committees.
(d): Rs. 15.00 cr. was released in Financial Year 2023-24, Rs. 35.16 cr. in Financial Year 2024-
25 and Rs. 3.20 cr. in the current financial year 2025-26 under Scheme for Economic
Empowerment of DNTs (SEED) covering 46,000 beneficiaries under the livelihood component,
551 beneficiaries under free coaching component and 7,000 beneficiaries under health insurance
component.
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