Introduction

Estimates reveal that South Asia has the world's largest nomadic population. India has roughly 10 per cent of the population classified under Nomadic and De-notified Tribes, comprising 150 De-notified Tribes and 500 Nomadic Tribes. While the De-notified Tribes have gradually become sedentary in various states of India, the Nomadic communities remain largely mobile in following their needs. Of the nomadic tribes, the Dhangar are a semi-nomadic (nomads with fixed habitations to which they return after completion of the annual cycle of migration) pastoral community in Maharashtra. One of the defining features of semi-nomads is the presence of animals, mainly livestock, in their midst. The Dhangar begin migrating after the monsoon harvest and return to their respective villages just before the onset of rains. For eight to nine months, when they are out of their settlements, moving with their animals in search of pasture, their houses either remain locked or the men leave behind women, children and the elderly to look after their homes, but also to sow winter crops, if any.

The report released by the non-profit League for Pastoral Peoples and Endogenous Livestock Development (LPP) on 30 September 2020 stated: ‘There is no official data on the number of pastoralists in India; although a figure of 35 million is often quoted, but without a source.