Aizawl, June 19 (NNN): National Commission for De-Notified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NCDNT) Member-Secretary, HK Das, IAS (Retd.) visited Mizoram and held meeting with the Social Welfare Department leaders on Saturday here.
Speaking about the purpose of his visit, Das said that the Central government has set up NCDNT under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to work for the development of de-notified nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes across India.
He added that after India got Independence, Parliament passed The Habitual Offenders Act in 1952 and abolished Criminal Tribes Act, 1871 made by the British Rule, and then Ayyengar Committee was constituted which has listed 193 backward tribes. The main objective is to identify and know all about the whereabouts and living condition of the tribes.
As per record of Ayyengar Committee, there are about 12 de-notified nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes in Mizoram, Das informed the leaders of Mizoram Social Welfare Department and asked them to conduct a study on the living condition of those tribes and submit their findings to NCDNT. He added that steps need to be taken in fastest manner as the Central government asks for submission of report before end of December, 2017.
The NCDNT Member-Secretary further said that after study of the report submitted by the State government, final decision will be made and that the opinion of the State government will be taken into consideration the most.
Meanwhile, State Social Welfare Department Secretary P. Lalchhuanga, IAS, stated the he does not know of any semi-nomadic and nomadic tribe in Mizoram. Even minority tribes and those living in the peripheral places are all in possession of family ration card, he added. However, he assured that the department will look into the wishes of the Commission as well as the list of smaller tribes provided by the Commission. He added that the people will be asked to give any information regarding the target of NCDNT and the department will fully cooperate with NCDNT.
