Maharashtra govt extends sops to Dhangar community

The BJP-led state government's promise to categorise the Dhangar (shepherd) community as tribals with benefits from the scheduled tribes (ST) quota may have run into legal issues and a wall of opposition. But, the Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday decided to extend benefits and schemes for tribals to the Dhangars in a bid to placate the powerful, yet restive community, before the state Assembly polls due in October.

The Devendra Fadnavis Cabinet approved a special development programme including 13 schemes and a separate Rs 1,000 crore outlay. This includes students from the nomadic tribes (NT-C) category, in which Dhangars fall in, being given admissions to reputed English-medium schools, 10,000 houses for families in the first phase and equity for co-operative spinning mills launched by Dhangars.

Dhangars, who are pastoral sheepherders with a significant number engaged in agriculture, are in the NT-C category with 3.5% quota but claim to be tribals. Their demand hinges on the presence of 'Dhangad/ Oraons' in the ST list. Dhangar leaders claim Dhangars and Dhangads are the same and 'Dhangad' is a "spelling mistake" that has deprived them of benefits. However, this demand is resisted by tribals, who claim Dhangars and Oraons are two distinct groups.

Before the 2014 Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections, the BJP had promised to include Dhangars in the ST category without eating into the share of benefits for tribals. "We agree with the demand for quotas and are working towards that end," said Dr Sanjay Kute, minister for welfare of backward classes, adding that the welfare schemes announced on Tuesday would ensure socio-economic development of the community.

These measures also include margin funds for entrepreneurs under the Centre's 'Stand Up India,' scheme, grants to shepherd families for grazing their cattle during the monsoon, cuts in competitive examination fees for students, and hostels in Navi Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Amravati, for post-matriculate students.

"This is an eyewash… the community does not agree with this. We want constitutional quotas, which are our right. Once this is done, we will automatically get these benefits," said former legislator Prakash Shendge, while calling it an "election gimmick." He charged that the BJP was going back on its word to categorise the Dhangars as tribals in the first Cabinet meeting after being elected to power.

Shendge, who is forming a front of backwards, denotified and nomadic communities, warned the community would launch an agitation in August and also organise protest marches during chief minister Fadnavis' tour of the state.

While Maharashtra has the highest number of tribals in India, Dhangars are said to be second in numbers at 12-15% after the Maratha-Kunbi caste cluster (31.5%). These demographic considerations have caught the BJP-led state government in a bind, especially after a report by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) pointed out there were few similarities between Dhangars and Dhangad/ Oraons. Shendge challenged the state government to publish the report.

Though Dhangars have a quota, leaders say including them in the ST category will entitle them to better educational and job opportunities. The demand is resisted by tribals, who claim this will deprive them of funds, quotas in jobs, education and even politics, and gradually alienate Adivasis of their land by making these fresh entrants eligible to purchase it.