ABSTRACT
Nomads are one of the early inhabitants of the earth. They are of different types – nomadic tribal communities who are wedded to the nature; nomadic tribal communities who are traditionally involved in begging; and people who have become nomads owing to the demands of modern life. Wandering for the purposes of hunting, cattle rearing, exhibition of traditional art, song and dance, and for begging constitute primary characteristics of nomadic tribes. As per the estimation of the National Commission on Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NCDNSNT), there are 249 denotified nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes in India, accounting for approximately 13 crore of the Indian population. The NCDNSNT which was set up under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, to study various developmental aspects of denotified and nomadic or semi-nomadic tribes in India submitted its report on 2 July 2008.
