In Hyderabad, Dr. K. Laxman, a Rajya Sabha Member and leader of the BJP OBC Morcha, stressed the importance of recognizing and supporting nomadic and denotified tribes (DNTs). He noted that these groups’ cultural and social contributions have been ignored for too long.
During a meeting in Hyderabad on Sunday, Dr. Laxman expressed concern over the decline of traditional art forms like Vinyasa, Harikatha, and Burrakatha. These art forms, once thriving in these communities, are now missing from mainstream media.
Dr. Laxman praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for acknowledging Nomadic Tribes Liberation Day. He mentioned that BJP-ruled states now observe this day as a government holiday, including Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. He recalled his efforts from 1999, which led to the renaming of offensive caste titles for these tribes.
He criticized the Congress-led caste census in Telangana, accusing it of focusing on vote bank politics rather than serving backward classes. Dr. Laxman emphasized that a credible census should be under the Union Home Ministry. He shared that a caste-based census is planned for 2026 and mentioned his communication with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to include nomadic tribes.
Public awareness and involvement are crucial, he noted, to ensure accurate population data for nomadic tribes. This data will help allocate budgets and development programs effectively. Dr. Laxman announced plans to visit various states in the next six months, engaging with nomadic communities to ensure their inclusion in the census.
He highlighted the Modi government‘s efforts to empower the SC Commission and work towards granting constitutional status to DNTs and SNTs. This would improve their access to education, healthcare, and jobs. Plans for a large-scale nomadic gathering in Telangana are underway, and Dr. Laxman encouraged media to cover these communities and their challenges.
