(a) whether the Government is aware of the culture of Banjaras, Ghumanta Bimukta Jaties in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the culture of Banjaras is getting extinct and they remained most backward
community in the country;
(d) if so, whether the Government proposes to constitute a Committee to survey the States and the lifestyle of Banjaras and preserve the culture, language, handicrafts of this ancient community; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND CULTURE
(SMT AMBIKA SONI)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) The Anthropological Survey of India under its monumental research project People of
India not only prepares a comprehensive list of the existing communities in India, but also
studied the Human surface of India. There are 4635 communities in India which includes the
Banjara community.
(c, d & e) The Ministry is already taking various steps to preserve the ethnic culture of
Banjaras through the Anthropological Survey of India and the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav
Sangrahalaya.
The Anthropological Survey of India have published the report on different communities
including various scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes and nomadic
communities from different parts of the country with special reference to their lifestyle,
culture, language and handicrafts including that of the Banjaras. The Indira Gandhi
Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya has already carried out field work and developed a very important
collection of the material culture and handicrafts of the Banjara style.
The zonal Anthropological Museum in collaboration with the Shilpgram at Udaipur, Rajasthan has
established one of the best museums having rich collection of the artifacts on the different
communities of Rajasthan including the Banjaras.
The I.G.R.M.S. has organized a number of presentations pertaining to crafts of Banjara people.
The museum would further expand its activities based on the culture of this community in
future years.