The advisory committee constituted by the Haryana Government on permanent settlement of shelter-less nomadic people has made a series of wide-ranging recommendations to bring the people belonging to Vimukt, Ghumantu, Ardh-Ghumantu and Tapriwas Jati into the mainstream in the State.
The advisory committee has recommended that a provision of separate scheme should be made for these people in the ongoing schemes meant for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes. Apart from this, arrangement for reservation on the lines of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Punjab should also be made to eliminate their social, economic backwardness.
There is a need to get a caste-based survey conducted for social, economic, educational development of these castes, suggested the committee.
A delegation led by Rajiv Jain, chairman, advisory committee, on Friday submitted its recommendations to the Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal who listened to all the recommendations and assured that he would take appropriate and effective steps.
The recommendations aim at strengthening these castes at social level and improving their lot by providing them benefits of the various welfare schemes of the State Government
The Chief Minister had announced in Panipat in 2015 to constitute the Vimukt Ghumantu Jati Vikas Board keeping in view their socio-economic and educational uplift-ment. He had also directed a survey and practical assessment though an advisory committee.
Following this, the Vimukt Ghumantu Jati Vikas Board had been constituted under the chairmanship of Balwan Singh and now the advisory committee has submitted its report in which recommendation for strengthening these castes at social level as well as to provide benefits of the welfare schemes has been made.
During his meeting with the Chief Minister, Rajiv Jain said Jogi, Jangam, Raibari, Bhat, Maniyar and Banajra had not been included in the list of Vimukt Tapriwas during the survey. These castes should have been included in the list.
While revising the list of Vimukta, Taprivas, Ghumantu castes, the committee has made the recommendation for adding Rai Sikhs with Mahatma, Bajigar, Gawanria, Banjara and Badi (synonyms of the same caste) in the same sequence number, addition of Shorgir with Shergir in Tapriwas list, and the names of Aheriya, Aheri, Thori with Hedi-Nayak and include Mahasya or Doom with Dumana caste.
In its recommendations, the committee said that since Gadaria, Hedi, Nayak, Sansi, Dehha, Bavaria, Bajigar and Banjara rear sheep and goat, the Sheep-Goat Rearing and Wool Development Board should be established.
The committee also stressed the need to give land for the Vimukt Ghumantu Bhawan at subsidised rates, and ownership to the people living on panchayat land for 10 years or more in the rural areas, minimum marks in employment and 10 per cent rebate in eligibility, to bring them into the mainstream by giving representation in local government, district grievances committees and politics.
It has also recommended permanent housing facility with all basic amenities to Gadia lohar, Deha, Singikat, Sikligar Vimukt, Ghumantu as 90 per cent in these castes are homeless.
The committee has said that special camps should be organised in Ghumantu-dominated areas, for giving facility of ration cards, Aadhaar cards and other necessary identity cards so that they can avail themselves of the benefits of the Prime Minister’s housing scheme.
The Gadia lohar, Shorgar, Banjara, Gadaria, Meena, Kanjar, Singikar included in backward classes should be included in the Scheduled Castes. A Vimukt Tapriwas hostel was established in Jind in 1982. Similarly, such hostels should be set up in all districts in high- density populated areas of Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar, Ambala, Bhiwani and Faridabad on priority basis, the committee recommended.
