Dr. Naveen Malik (Assistant Professor)
Government College for Women, Panchkula, Haryana, India
Email: [email protected]
Abstract: The Kalbelia tribe, a nomadic group in Rajasthan, has a rich cultural heritage as snake charmers and entertainers, but has faced marginalisation and discrimination throughout history. They were wrongly classified as criminal tribes under the British Criminal Tribes Act of 1871, which significantly impacted their societal standing. After India’s independence in 1947, they were recognised as a Scheduled Tribe, which granted them some constitutional protections. Despite this, they continue to struggle with equality, facing challenges from the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, which hindered their traditional livelihoods, and the Forest Rights Act of 2006, which requires them to adapt to modern legal frameworks. The community continues to lack access to essential rights and amenities such as education and healthcare, leading to high dropout rates and persistent poverty. Although UNESCO recognises their cultural heritage, the Kalbelia people face issues of land tenure, government recognition, and economic opportunities, as well as social stigmatisation due to their socio-economic status.
Keywords: Kalbelia Tribe; Nomadic; Snake Charmers; Criminal Tribe; Scheduled Tribe; UNESCO.