Scheme for Economic Empowerment of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Tribes (SEED) launched.

Why in news?

• Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, launched the Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED) for the welfare of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Communities.
• DNTs, NTs, SNTs are the one of the most deprived and economically weaker communities in India.
• The misery of these communities began with the enactment of the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871 during the British rule. These communities were subjugated, persecuted and neglected. The policies of the colonial government affected lives and livelihood adversely. They were branded as criminals under various colonial acts. This led to the forcible alienation from their traditional occupations and habitations. They remained hunter gatherers and pastoral/peripatetic.
• Even after the Independence; they have not benefitted much from the planned development of over seven decades. They were deprived of state support like the SCs/STs.
• Commissions set up for DNTs
  • Renke Commission was set up in 2008
  • National Commission was constituted in 2015 under the chairmanship of Shri BhikuRamjiIdate.
• Based on the recommendation of Idate commission, the Government of India set up the Development and Welfare Board for DNTs, SNTs &NTs (DWBDNCs) in 2019.

About SEED scheme

• It is an an umbrella scheme for empowerment of these communities.
• The four component of the SEED scheme are:

1. Educational empowerment– Free coaching to students from these communities for Civil Services, entry to professional courses like medicine, engineering, MBA, etc.
2. Health Insurance through PMJAY of National Health Authority.
3. Livelihoods to support income generation, and
4. Housing (through PMAY/IAY)

• The scheme will ensure expenditure of Rs.200 crore to be spent over five years beginning 2021-22. The DWBDNCs has been tasked with the implementation of this scheme.