Lok Sabha Question No. 1973 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-11
Subject: SEED Scheme for De-notified Tribes
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Dr. Prashant Yadaorao Padole

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1973 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.03.2025

## SEED SCHEME FOR DE-NOTIFIED TRIBES

1973. DR. PRASHANT YADAORAO PADOLE:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of beneficiaries under different components of the SEED (Scheme for Economic Empowerment of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes) scheme;
- (b) the status of Certificate issued to De-notified Tribes;
- (c) whether there are discrepancies in issuing certificates to De-notified Tribes and if so, the measures adopted to ensure that such discrepancies do not occur; and
- (d) whether the Government is taking steps to repeal the Habitual Offenders Act across States as per the recommendation of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI B.L. VERMA)

- (a): Department of Social Justice and Empowerment implements a scheme namely, Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED) for the development and welfare of Denotified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Communities (DNT).
- (i) Under Educational Empowerment (Free Coaching Component), 541 DNT students have been benefited.
- (i) Under Livelihood Component of SEED, 2,620 Self Help Groups (SHGs) involving 29,517 beneficiaries have been formed in eight States namely, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana.
- (iii) Under Health Insurance Component in Gujarat and Maharashtra so far a total of 2,608 Ayushman Cards have been issued to DNT beneficiaries.
- (b) & (c): Issuance of DNT Caste Certificate to eligible persons belonging to these communities lies with the State/UT Governments

Seven States (Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Gujarat) are issuing the certificates based on the guidelines by the respective State Governments.

- (d): As Habitual Offenders Act is a State Act, Ministry of Home Affairs has been seeking the status of Habitual Offenders Act from States/UTs from time to time. The status of repealment of Habitual Offenders Act as per information provided by Ministry of Home Affairs for 26 States/UTs is enclosed at Annexure.

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Annexure : Reply to Part (d) of Admitted Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.1973 for 11.03.2025 asked by Shri Prashant Yadaorao Padole regarding 'SEED Scheme for DeNotified Tribes'.

Information/comments received from States/UTs on the Status of "Habitual Offender Act" in their jurisdiction.

| S.No.   | State/UT                        | Information/Comment                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|---------|---------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         | Haveli and Daman & Diu          | Dadra and Nagar No De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes are in UT of Dadra & Nagar Haveli. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Habitual Offenders Act, 1976 is in force in Dadra and Nagar Haveli.                                                                                  |
|         | NCT of Delhi                    | regard to Habitual Offenders Act, however, the Madras Restriction of Habitual Offenders Act 1948 has been extended no. 51 dated December 22,1951 issued by Ministry of Home                                                                                                                    |
| 3.      | Karnataka                       | The Karnataka Habitual Offenders Act, 1961 is in existence.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 4.      | West Bengal                     | No Habitual Offenders Act for the State of West Bengal                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|         | Andaman & Nicobar Islands (ANI) | Habitual offenders are being booked under Section 110g of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 and produced before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate. Such offenders are bound down by way of personal bond as well as surety bond for good behavior Elms hi. The Police Satons f Sands are minimin |
|         | Chandigarh                      | Nomadic Tribes for UT of Chandigarh. Therefore, in the absence of any tribal Group, the information may be treated as                                                                                                                                                                          |
| T.      | Lakshadweep                     | The indigenous population of Lakshadweep are Muslims by religion and has been classified as Scheduled Tribes by Govt. of India. There are no other tribes like: Nomadic or Semi- Nomadic Tribes in the Union Territory. Theretore, the information may be treated as 'Nil'.                    |
|         | Puducherry                      | The status of Habitual Offenders Act in the UT of Puducherry does not arise since the Habitual Ottenders under the De- notified. Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities does not                                                                                                                 |
| 9.      | Rajasthan                       | Rata Fadeat Rajasthan Habitual Offenders Act, 1953 and Rajasthan Habitual Offenders Rules, 1955 are in place. However, there is no provision for De-notified, Nomadic & Semi- nomadic                                                                                                          |
| 10.     | Assam                           | No San Act undese la ile Habitual Offenders Act for the State of Assam.                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |

|   11. | Punjab            | Punjab Habitual Offenders (Control and Remedial) Act 1962 was enacted in 1952 and still stands on the Statute. However, It is not being implemented. During the last five years, no register of Habitual Offenders was maintained by the police, no data or entries have been made therein and no orders have been passed by the District Magistrates under this Act against any persons. For all practical purposes, this Act is not implemented and is not in force.                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-------|-------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    12 | Andhra Pradesh    | Andhra Pradesh Habitual Offenders Act 1962, [A.P. Act No. - of 1962] is still in force in the State of Andhra Pradesh However, no prisoner is confined in any of the Jails of Andhra Pradesh State under the provisions of Andhra Pradesh Habitual Offenders Ac 1962, as on 11-10-2019                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|    13 | Mizoram           | The Govt. of Mizoram has not enacted "Habitual Offenders Act" Hence, there is no Habitual Offender Act in the State of Mizoram for repeal.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|    14 | Gujarat           | Habitual Offenders Act 1959 provides for the action to be taken to curb the activities of habitual offenders, It does not intend to harass or create hardship to any particular community. Therefore, the State Govt. of Gujarat is of the opinion that the "Habitual Offenders Act, 1959" may not be repealed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|    15 | Tripura           | Habitual Offenders Act has not yet been enacted by the State of Tripura                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|    16 | Haryana           | The Restriction of Habitual Offenders, Act (Punjab Act No. S of 1918) has been repealed by the State of Haryana vide The Restriction of Habitual Offenders (Punjab) Haryana Repeal Act 2004 (Haryana Act No. 14 of 2004).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|    17 | Sikkim            | Habitual Offenders Act has not been extended in the State of Sikkim                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|    18 |                   | Himachal Pradesh Govt. of Himachal Pradesh has been registering the cases as per the provision of section 4 of HP Habitual Offender Act,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|    19 | Jammu and Kashmir | The Jammu and Kashmir Habitual Offenders (Control and Reforms) Act, 1956 continues to be in operation as indicated in the 5" Schedule, Table 4 at S.No. 53 of the Jammu and Kashmir Re-organization Act, 2019. Govt. of J&K has further invited the attention to the section 2(2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Habitual Offenders (Control and Reforms) Act, 1956 and stated that as per the said provision of law, no individuals/persons who have been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment more than twice on account of any one or more of the offences mentioned in the schedule the Act are registered under the Jammu and Kashmir Habitual Offenders |
|    20 | Ladakh            | (Control and Reforms) Act, 1956 The Jammu and Kashmir Habitual Offenders (Control and Reforms) Act, 1968 has been repealed as a whole in the Union Territory of Ladakh vide Order bearing SO 3775(E) dated 23.10.2020                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|    21 | Uttar Pradesh     | UP Habitual Offenders (Restriction) Act, 1962 is still in place in the State of UP. However, State Govt. has further conveyed that they had no objection if Central Govt. repeals the said Act as all the provisions of this Act is already in place in UP Control of Goondas Act, 1970                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|    22 | Bihar             | Habitual Offenders Act is not in place in Bihar                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|    23 | Telangana         | No cases are pending under the Habitual Offenders Act as on 23.07.2020 and the Act has become redundant and the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |

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|    |              | provisions of the Act are more in the form of preventive measures than punitive and rehabilitative. Further, no community as a whole has been notified as habitual offender                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|----|--------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 24 | Odisha       | The Odisha Restriction of Habitual Offenders Act, 1952 is still in force though no case has been registered under its provisions in the last five years.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| 25 | Goa          | After verification as per State wise list of communities prepared by National Commission for Notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Tribes, it is observed that there are no such Nomadic Tribes existing in the State of Goa. Therefore, the Govt. of Goa is of the view that the continuance of the Goa, Daman and Diu Habitual Offenders Act, 1976 in the State of Joa would not impact any such tribe: |
| 26 | Chhattisgarh | Je Habitual OfFenders Act is not operational/ implemented i State of Chhattisgarh.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |

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