Nowhere Women: The Double Marginalization of Denotified Tribal Women

Abstract

Nowhere Women: The Double Marginalization of Denotified Tribal Women explores the layered oppression faced by women belonging to Denotified Tribes (DNTs) in India—communities historically branded as "criminal" under colonial law and still grappling with systemic exclusion. These women endure a unique intersection of caste-based stigma and gendered violence, rendering them invisible in both policy and public discourse. The paper examines how colonial legacies, such as the Criminal Tribes Act and its successor, the Habitual Offenders Act, continue to shape their socio-economic realities. It analyzes the failure of state mechanisms to adequately recognize and support DNT women, despite schemes like SEED and recommendations from commissions. Through a critical lens, the study highlights issues of identity denial, lack of access to education and healthcare, vulnerability to sexual violence, and absence from political representation. Ultimately, the paper calls for a reimagining of inclusion frameworks that center the voices and lived experiences of these "nowhere women"—those who exist at the margins of both caste and gender justice.