Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 in India

Restrictions on Pastoralists

• Colonial governments imposed restrictions on pastoral groups, limiting their movement and access to markets and grazing lands.
• Pastoralists were not allowed to enter markets in white areas, restricting their economic opportunities.
• New territorial boundaries and restrictions led to a significant impact on pastoralists, affecting their livelihoods and way of life.

Surveillance and Control

• Police kept a watch on the movements of pastoralists, monitoring their activities and restricting their freedom.
• In Kaokoland, Namibia, colonial authorities restricted the movements of pastoralists, limiting their access to grazing lands and resources.

Maasai and Reserve System

• Colonial authorities confined the Maasai within a reserve, prohibiting them from moving in search of pastures, leading to severe consequences during drought.
• During severe drought, the Maasai were confined within a reserve, leading to the death of large numbers of cattle due to starvation and disease.
• The confinement of the Maasai within a reserve limited their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions, leading to devastating consequences.

Taxation and Control in India

• Many communities in India were classified as Criminal Tribes under the Criminal Tribes Act, subjecting them to surveillance and control.
• The colonial authorities imposed a tax on pastoralists' animals in India, aimed at generating revenue and controlling the movement of pastoralists.
• Pastoralists were required to show a pass and pay tax when entering a grazing tract in India, restricting their access to resources.
• Contractors who collected grazing taxes tried to extract as high a tax as they could, exploiting pastoralists.
• The Criminal Tribes Act had a significant impact on certain communities in India, stigmatizing and criminalizing them.
• The tax collection system for pastoralists in India changed between the 1850s and 1880s, with the introduction of new regulations and taxes.
• Pastoralists had to prove their eligibility to enter grazing tracts in India, demonstrating their ownership and rights to the land.