(i) British officials were suspicious of nomadic people. They distrusted mobile craftsmen and traders who sold their goods in villages, and pastoralists who changed their places of residence every season, moving in search of good pastures for their herds. 

(ii) The colonial government wanted to rule over a settled population. Such a population was easy to identify and control and collect taxes. 

(iii) Those who were settled were seen as peaceable and law abiding; those who were nomadic were considered to be criminal. 

(iv) In 1871, the colonial government in India passed the Criminal Tribes Act. By this Act many Communities of craftsmen, traders and pastoralists were classified as Criminal Tribes. 

(v) They were stated to be criminal by nature and birth. Once this Act came into force, these communities were expected to live only in notified village settlements. They were not allowed to move out without a permit. The village police kept a continuous watch on them.