The British Government had from time to time declared some of the tribes which, according to them, were involved in criminal activities as Criminal Tribes. The Criminal Tribes Act (CTA), 1871 provided that if a Local Government had reason to believe that any tribe, gang or class of people is addicted to the systematic commission of non-bailable offences, it may, with the authorization of the Governor General, declare such tribe etc. as a “Criminal Tribe”. The CTA was revised in 1911 and in 1924. The CTA, 1924, was repealed by the Criminal Tribes Laws (Repeal) Act, 1952 on the recommendations of the Shri Ananthasayanam Ayyangar Committee. As a result, the tribes notified earlier as Criminal Tribes, stood denotified, and the name ‘Denotified Tribes’ (DTs) has been in use for them since then. Nomads are people who are constantly on the move and have no permanent home. On the other hand, Semi-nomadic groups tend to have a fixed abode for a part of the year and are Itinerant in the rest of the year. Most DNTs are categorized as SC/ST/OBC though a few of the DNTs are not covered in any of these categories.
National Commission for Denotified, Nomadicand Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NCDNT)
A National Commission for Denotified, Nomadicand Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NCDNT) was constituted in the year 2005 which made certain recommendations. In addition, the National Advisory Council (NAC) constituted a Working Group on Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes in 2011 which proposed a detailed set of recommendations for the DNTs.
The Government has considered the recommendations of the NCDNT and NAC and has taken the following decisions:
A Resolution for establishment of the Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes with the following Terms of Reference has been issued on 12.02.2014:
States-wise Distribution of PVTGs
While some tribal communities have adopted a mainstream way of life, at the other end of the spectrum, there are certain Scheduled Tribes, 75 in number known as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), (earlier termed as Primitive Tribal Groups) who are characterised by:-
Andhra Pradesh: 1. Bodo Gadaba, 2. Bondo Poroja, 3. Chenchu, 4. Dongria Khond, 5. Gutob Gadaba, 6. Khond Poroja, 7. Kolam,8. Kondareddis, 9. Konda Savaras, 10. Kutia Khond, 11. Parengi Poroja, 12. Thoti
Bihar (including Jharkhand): 13. Asurs, 14. Birhor, 15. Birjia, 16. Hill Kharia, 17. Korwas, 18. Mal Paharia, 19. Parhaiyas, 20. Sauria Paharia, 21. Savar
Gujarat: 22. Kathodi, 23. Kotwalia, 24. Padhar, 25. Siddi, 26. Kolgha Karnataka, 27. Jenu Kuruba, 28. Koraga
Kerala: 29. Cholanaikayan (a section of Kattunaickans), 30. Kadar, 31. Kattunayakan, 32. Kurumbas, 33. Koraga
Madhya Pradesh (including Chhattisgarh): 34. Abujh Marias, 35. Baigas, 36. Bharias, 37. Hill Korbas, 38. Kamars, 39. Saharias, 40. Birhor
Maharashtra: 41. Katkaria (Kathodia), 42. Kolam, 43. Maria Gond
Manipur: 44. Marram Nagas
Orissa: 45. Birhor, 46. Bondo, 47. Didayi, 48. Dongria- Khond, 49. Juangs, 50. Kharias, 51. Kutia Kondh, 52. Lanjia Sauras, 53. Lodhas, 54. Mankidias, 55. Paudi Bhuyans, 56. Soura, 57. Chuktia Bhunjia
Rajasthan: 58. Seharias
Tamil Nadu: 59. Kattu Nayakans, 60. Kotas, 61. Kurumbas, 62. Irulas, 63. Paniyans, 64. Todas
Tripura: 65. Reang
Uttar Pradesh (including Uttarakhand): 66. Buxas, 67. Rajis
West Bengal: 68. Birhor, 69. Lodhas, 70. Totos
Andaman & Nicobar Islands: 71. Great Andamanese 72. Jarawas 73. Onges 74. Sentinelese 75. Shom Pens