India is my country and all Indians are my brothers and sisters
We all are well aware of what this line signifies. This line symbolizes what India is made up of- its secularity and its unity in diversity. We have been taught that our Indian constitution gives everyone equal rights to vote, education, religion, etc. But the question is does everyone have access to equal rights? Well, what about the nomadic people? Do you think they are getting equal opportunities as any other Indian citizen? It certainly does not look like that.
Over
and over again, the nomadic and denotified tribes are ignored both by the
politicians and the government. Even though certain provisions are made for
them, it is just that. Some words that are written but not fully executed. When
a region or an area undergoes urban development, it is carried out from a human
rights perspective and in the spirit of constitutional morality. Unfortunately,
not everyone is lucky enough to experience this. The nomadic and denotified
tribes, who contribute significantly in terms of physical labor to this
development, are kept away from its benefits and most often are subjugated by
the city residents.
The
issue of exclusion of nomadic tribes is not new. They have been beaten both by
the government and society. But they still carry on, doing labor work to earn
money, feed their children, to live. It is very late, if delayed, we may lose
one of India’s ancient cultures. The sooner the central and local governments
address the exclusion of nomadic tribes, the sooner they can work towards their
inclusion and participation in society.
To
begin with, governments need to recognize and respect the traditional land use
and resource management practices of nomadic communities and work towards
securing their land and resource rights. This may involve creating legal
frameworks that recognize the customary land rights of nomadic tribes and
providing them with support to manage and protect their resources. They also
work towards providing basic services such as education, healthcare, water and
sanitation facilities to nomadic communities. This may require innovative
approaches that have taken into account the mobility of these communities, such
as mobile schools and health clinics.
Additionally,
governments should support the economic and social empowerment of nomadic
communities, by providing access to credit, markets, and training
opportunities. This may involve promoting traditional skills and crafts and
creating opportunities for nomads to participate in local and regional
economies. Finally, it is important for governments to recognize the cultural
identity and heritage of nomadic communities, and to support efforts to
preserve and promote their cultural traditions. This may involve creating
cultural centers and museums, supporting language preservation programs, and
promoting the participation of nomads in cultural festivals and events
Addressing
the exclusion of nomadic tribes requires a comprehensive approach that takes
into account the unique needs and challenges faced by these communities. It
requires the participation and engagement of nomadic communities themselves, as
well as the collaboration of government agencies, civil society organizations,
and the private sector. We as citizens also have the responsibility to ensure
that our nomadic brothers and sisters should not be subjugated in any way or
form and must get their rightful place in society.
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