A job, home, and new life: Rajasthan tribe rewrites its story

Manoj Kumar, a denotified Kanjar tribe member from Jhalawar, Rajasthan, became the first individual from his community to secure a government job as a Home Guard. Initially, Kumar's aspirations faced challenges as he was met with skepticism and a lack of support during his initial applications. However, his situation changed when the local police took notice of his ambitions and encouraged him to pursue the opportunity once more, ultimately leading to his selection.

Kumar's success story is not isolated, as two of his brothers also landed jobs at Rajasthan Textile Mills (RTM) after a year-long campaign aimed at uplifting his tribe. This collective effort involved various government departments, social activists, private firms, and educational institutions working together to transform the Kanjar community's position in society.

The Kanjar tribe's communities, known as up-basti or sub-settlements, have long been marginalized due to a history of criminal activity, limited education, and lack of employment opportunities. These settlements typically consist of makeshift homes and face significant health and sanitation issues. The criminal stereotype associated with the community has further limited their prospects for respectable employment.

Assistant Sub Inspector Madan Lal, who led the special team to survey the sub-settlements, identified the root causes of the community's struggles. Long-term absences from education, combined with poverty, restricted job prospects, and the criminal stereotype, created a vicious socio-economic cycle. With nearly 165 new enrollments in the current academic session, about 900 children from these camps have now been enrolled in schools, thanks to the efforts of the district administration and social activists.

Over the past year, the 'Naya Savera' campaign, led by the police, has brought various government departments, social activists, and private firms together to address the community's issues. These initiatives have included the rehabilitation of settlements with pucca structures, the construction of a cremation ground, and the implementation of the Social Justice and Empowerment Department's Navjeevan Scheme.

This scheme has provided free education, uniforms, study materials, nutrition, and transportation to children from the community, significantly increasing the number of enrolled children in schools.