Denotified Tribes (DNT) such as the Pardhis, Kanjars, Nat and Sapera have historically faced stigma from their colonial-era classification as ‘Criminal Tribes’, a designation repealed in 1952 but whose social and economic effects persist. BRLF launched the second phase of its DNT/NT project in August 2023, led by Padma Shri Girish Prabhune, targeting more than 150 Pardhi households in year one, 2,000 in year two and 5,000 in year three across Ahmednagar and Pune districts.

Working with the Krantiveer Chapekar Smarak Samiti, the project uses 10.5 acres of land for income-generating activities such as agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry, alongside entrepreneurship promotion and improved access to education and healthcare.