The present study is an investigative research into the origin and development of the 'criminal' tribes comprising Dasaris, Dommaras, Nakkalas, Sugalis, Woddars, Yerukulas and Yanadis. With the destruction of the age old occupations of a number of communities by the colonial policies, the plight of the CTs in pre and post colonial state is a stark testimony in their development. No government or administration worth its name can remain idle for long towards the plight of these people.

There are five major 'CT' settlements established between 1904 and 1914. Sitanagaram and Stuartpuram in Guntur, Kapparallatippa in Nellore, Siddhapuram in Kurnool and Lingala in Mahaboobnagar districts. These settlements were effectively controlled by the police and missionaries within the framework of CTA reducing them virtually into slaves.

The present volume consisting of articles on various facets of denotified tribes from the inception till date is based on thorough research including extensive field work. With the careful analysis of the archival sources the study focuses on transformation, settlement patterns, land allotment, financial management, health, education and present scenario of the DNT communities in Andhra Pradesh.

With the establishment of Colonial Rule in India and consequent introduction of machine made goods, the Austro-Asiatic groups were deprived of patronage for their handicrafts and hand made goods.

With the loss of patronage for their goods, these Artisan groups lost their livelihood. Many of them were forced to take to crime for earning their livelihood. By the early 19th century, the 'Criminal activities of the groups became such a serious law and order problem that the Government enacted 'Criminal Tribes Act' to control the 'Criminal activities of certain communities. Under the said Act, community members of which were generally found to be engaged in 'Criminal' activities viz., house breaking, dacoity, cattle lifting, jewellery snatching etc., were notified as 'Criminal Tribes' in each district on the recommendations of the Superintendent of police of the District concerned. The movements and activities of the 'Criminal Tribes' used to be under surveillance of the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Police Station in which the 'Criminal Tribe' concerned used to live. As a result of the restrictions on the movements of the entire community notified as 'Criminal Tribe' the members of that community became backward economically and educationally. The entire community suffered social stigma of being labeled as 'Criminal Tribe'.

After the advent of independence, the Government of India appointed the Criminal Tribes Enquiry Committee under the Chairmanship of M. Anantha Sayanam Ayyangar. The committee after studying the conditions of the 'Criminal Tribes' in the entire country recommended for the repeal of the Criminal Tribes Act. The Government of India accordingly repealed the Criminal Tribes Act and replaced it with Habitual Offenders Act 1952. The Habitual Offenders Act is a State Government legislation. With the repeal of Criminal Tribes Act, the communities notified under the said Act as 'Criminal Tribes' were denotified with a view to undertake ameliorative measures for the ex-Criminal Tribes. A list of the tribes which were denotified with the repeal of the Criminal Tribes Act was issued by the respective State Governments as the list of Denotified Tribes or Vimuktha Jathis. Thus the list of Denotified Tribes came into existence for each state. The list of Denotified Tribes of the erstwhile Madras State was issued in 1952. There are 66 entries. These entries relate to the Andhra region of the state. Many of these entries do not indicate any community. For example: Gang of Assassins; Sl. No. 20 (Jatur Mixed Gang) Sl. No. 60 (Tankela Ramanas) etc. Most of these entries are repetitions of the same community. Again, Yerukulas find place at Sl. No. 32 (Yerukulas) Sl. No. 33 (Eerukulas) Sl. No. 29 (Urkorchas) Sl. No. 39 (Koravas) Sl. No. 42. (Korachas). Korachas known as Dabbala Yerukas 48: Mondi Korava 52; 63 Nawabpet Korchas; Veyalpad Korachas 65; Eerikkalas and Korachas 66. Korava, Koracha and Kaikadi are synonyms for Yerukulas and therefore, all the above entries refers to one community., Yerukula. The sixty six entries in the Denotified tribes list of Andhra region can be identified as the following communities:

In respect of Telangana region the following three communities are Denotified.

1. Waddara

2. Dommara

3. Kaikadi (Yerukula)

After the repeal of the Criminal Tribes Act and consequent definition of erstwhile 'Criminal Tribes', the restrictions on the movements of the ex-criminal tribes have been removed and some of these communities managed to get them listed as Scheduled Tribes. For example, Yerukula, Lambadi and Yanadi and several communities have listed as socially and educationally backward classes. The remaining groups were listed as Denotified Tribes which also received attention of the Government for their rehabilitation. The list of nomadic and ex-criminal tribe/groups were popularly known as list of Nomadic Tribes and Denotified Tribes. There are several non-tribal groups in both the lists. The communities listed in the list of Nomadic and Denotified Tribes refer to tribes with the denotification of the erstwhile 'Criminal Tribes' and removal of restriction on their movements. With the launch of various measures for their rehabilitation by the Government and NGOs like the Salvation Army, Bharatiya Adimajati Sevak Sangh etc., the erstwhile criminal tribes and nomadic groups came into contact with the rest of society. Since 1952 these cultural contacts paved the way for adoption of certain traits of backward Telugu castes in rural areas in symbiosis with whom erstwhile criminal and nomadic groups have been living in the rural areas. With the constant interaction for the past 50 years between the erstwhile criminal and nomadic tribes and the rural caste groups has led to assimilation of many of erstwhile criminal and nomadic tribes into the caste system in the rural areas.

As a result of this process of acculturisation of several erstwhile 'criminal' and nomadic tribes and by virtue of their residence in rural areas after their rehabilitation and settlement these groups got themselves absorbed into Indian caste system. However, this change from tribe to caste did not take place overnight. This took place over a period of more than four decades.

The study of 'CTs' has not generally been a favourite subject among the academic circles. The present study is an investigative research into the origin and development of these tribes. The 19th Century colonial policies destroyed the age old occupation of a number of communities and as a result they lost livelihood. This has gone into the making of 'CTs'. No government or administration worth its name can remain idle for long towards the plight of these people. The government has to either directly settle and provide employment opportunities to these people or better still encourage private agencies in this direction.

The colonial government sought to improve the lot of these 'CTs' through private agencies such as the Salvation Army, the London Mission, the American Baptist Mission, the Canadaian Mission, Chief Khalsa Diwan, Deo Samaj, Anjuman Islamia, Ahamdia Society, Sanatana Dharma Sabha, Arya Samaj and the Punjab Hindu Sabha in Andhra Pradesh. These tribals were for the most part settled in Stuartpuram (Guntur district), Siddhapuram (Kurnool district) Sitanagaram (Guntur district), Kapparalla Tippa (Bitragunta) Kavali (Nellore district) and Lingala (Mahaboob Nagar district) settlements. The government provided them vacant land so that they will engage and enable themselves in agricultural pursuits. Educational opportunities were also made available for the children of these communities. The Government also granted financial assistance to the Missionary managements for the upkeep of these settlements. The various agencies sought tocater to the educational, health and employment opportunities of the tribes. The present volume consisting of articles on various facets of the 'Criminal Tribes' from the inception till date is based on through research including extensive field work.