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VOL. 8, ISSUE 2 (2026)
State, stigma, and survival: A socio-political study of nomadic tribes in India
Authors
Divya Kumari
Abstract
Tribes are probably the most exploited groups in our history, though they are not a part of the highly absurd and arbitrary stratified caste system; still, they are considered as a lower caste and living on the margins. Despite the fact that they were denotified after the enactment of the constitution and subsequently the newly formed government in the newly born India, which had its commitment towards its Tryst with Destiny, repealed in 1952 the colonial law Criminal Tribes Act of 1871, the misery of these tribes continued and even endured after seven decades of enactment of the constitution and the seventy-fifth year of Independence. They are still considered habitual offenders and comprise the highest number of undertrials in our prisons due to this perpetual colonial mindset of institutions of criminal justice and lack of empathy of the government and institutions. This research paper will examine their culture, which makes them distinct from others and unique. It also talks about the contribution of Tribes to indigenous medicines and how tribals used flora to remedy many diseases. The paper concludes by arguing that these nomadic tribes are still seen through the lens of suspicion or as hereditary criminals, and to end this, we really need a strong policy framework and inclusion of them in the overall development of society.
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Pages:75-79
How to cite this article:
Divya Kumari "State, stigma, and survival: A socio-political study of nomadic tribes in India". International Journal of Sociology and Political Science, Vol 8, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 75-79
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