LUCKNOW, Aug. 31 -- Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday announced the creation of a dedicated welfare board for Vimukt Jati and nomadic tribes, with housing, colonies, land leases, and voting rights to be extended to them. The announcement was made during the state-level celebration of 'Vimukt Jati Diwas' in Lucknow.

Extending greetings on the occasion, the CM said, "Communities like Nat, Banjara, Bawariya, Sasi, Kanjad, Kalbeliya, Sapera, and Jogi were among the brave tribes who fought as warriors during foreign invasions." He said these communities displayed courage against the Mughals and the British.

Adityanath recalled that in 1871, the British enacted the Criminal Tribes Act, declaring these communities to be criminals by bir...