The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment organised ‘SAMAVESH UTSAV’, an event celebrating the progress of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic (DNT) communities. More than 700 beneficiaries, community leaders and artisans from across India attended the celebration held at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in Delhi. The event showcased the impact of the Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED) and displayed traditional crafts and products made by DNT artisans.
What the SEED Scheme covers
The Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED) works across four main areas: education, healthcare, livelihood and housing. It aims to improve the overall socio-economic conditions of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic communities.
The event featured twenty exhibition stalls run by artisans from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi. These stalls displayed products including handmade godhadis, jute bags, traditional jhulas, hand embroidery, blue pottery, iron products, appliqué work, block-print items, pickles, spices and fruit jams. The exhibition represented nine different communities: Banjara, Chamar, Nat, Sutar, Vadar, Lohar, Gadiya Lohar, Waghri and Naik.
The Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNC), which operates under the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, was established by notification on 21st February 2019. The SEED Scheme was launched later to support the holistic welfare and empowerment of these communities.
What this means for you
If you belong to a De-notified, Nomadic or Semi-Nomadic community, the SEED Scheme offers support through education, healthcare, livelihood and housing programmes. For artisans from these communities, the scheme provides a platform to showcase and sell traditional crafts, helping them build economic independence. The government’s focus on these communities signals ongoing investment in their social and economic development across multiple states and union territories.