The advisory committee on permanent settlement of shelter-less nomadic peoplehas made a host of recommendations to the Haryana chief minister to bring the members of various nomadic tribes into the mainstream.
A delegation, led by the chairman of the committee, Rajiv Jain, today submitted the recommendations to bring the members of the Vimukt, Ghumantu, Ardh-Ghumantu and Tapriwas nomadic tribes into the mainstream to Chief MinisterManohar Lal Khattar, an official release said.
The chief minister listenedto the recommendations and assured the members of the delegation that appropriate and effective steps would be taken, it added.
The recommendations aim to strengthen the above-mentioned nomadic tribes sociallyand improve their lot by ensuring that the benefits of the welfare schemes of the state government reached them.
Khattar had announced in Panipat in2015 to constitute the Vimukt Ghumantu Jati Vikas Board, keeping in view their socio-economicand educational upliftment.
He had also directed a survey and practical assessment throughthe advisory committee.
The Vimukt Ghumantu Jati Vikas Board was constituted under the chairmanship ofBalwan Singh and now, the advisory committee has submitted its report.
Jain told the chief minister that the Jogi, Jangam, Raibari, Bhat,ManiyarandBanjaracommunities had not been included into the list of Vimukt Tapriwas duringthe survey, adding that they should have been included into it.
While revising the list of Vimukta, Tapriwas and Ghumantu castes, the committee has made a recommendation for adding the Rai Sikhs with Mahatma, Bajigar, Gawanria, Banjara and Badi (synonyms of the same caste) in the same sequence number, addition of Shorgir with Shergir into the Tapriwas list, and the names of Aheriya, Aheri, Thori with Hedi-Nayak and include Mahasya or Doom with the Dumana caste.
In its recommendations, the committee said that since the members of the Gadaria, Hedi, Nayak, Sansi, Dehha, Bavaria, Bajigar and Banjara communities reared sheep and goat, a sheep-goat rearing and wool development board should be established.
It also stressed on the need to provide land for the Vimukt Ghumantu Bhawan at a subsidised rate, ownership to those living on panchayat land for 10 years or more in the rural areas, minimum marks in employment and a 10-per cent rebate in eligibility to them.
It also recommended to bring themintothe mainstream by giving them representation in the local government, district grievances committees and politics.
The committee also recommended a permanent housing facility with all basic amenities to the Gadia Lohar, Deha, Singikat, Sikligar Vimukt, Ghumantus as 90 per cent of the members of these castes were homeless.
The committee also said special camps should be organised in the Ghumantu-dominated areas, for giving the facility of ration cards, aadhaarcardsand other necessary identity cards to them, so that they can claim the benefits of the prime minister's housing scheme.
The committee has also said there is a need for a caste- based survey for the social, economic and educational development of these castes.
"A provision fora separatescheme should be made for these people in the ongoing schemes meant forthe welfareof the scheduled castes and backward classes. Apart from this, an arrangement for reservation on the lines of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Punjab should also be made to eliminate their social and economic backwardness," it said.
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