Expedite classification of nomadic tribes in quota lists, panel tells Centre

• The parliamentary panel on Social Justice and Empowerment has pulled up the Union government over the “very slow” process to categorize over 260 denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes under the SC/ST/OBC lists.
• Government officials said that this has delayed the approval of benefits under the SEED (Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs).

About the SEED scheme

• Launched by: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
• Aim: providing free competitive exam coaching, health insurance, housing assistance, and livelihood initiatives.

Tribes in India

• Categorisation of tribes: > 10 crore Indians from over 1,400 communities are either denotified, nomadic or semi-nomadic.
• Idate Commission categorisation: 1,262 communities under SC/ST/OBC lists and 267 communities were left uncategorised.

Prelims Takeaway

• Anthropological Survey of India