Thanks for sharing - very, very interesting.
Is Sikligar a kind of Sikh caste or something, which is why it isn't recognised by the government?
Because Sikligar are not recognized as a "scheduled caste" or a "scheduled tribe" they are politically "invisible." That leaves them without any means within the formal political system to access accommodations for education, job training, cultural protection, and economic advancement, the way Dalits would be.
There are several groups like the Sikligar who are self-defined, and defined by others, in terms of traditional occupational roles during periods in Indian history which have long since passed. Some Sikh historians list 8 to 10 such groups, who can be considered "tribes" that have maintained "tribal identities" over generations.
A similar group would be the Ramgarhia, who are often mistaken as a caste, but were historically Sikhs
correction: one of the Sikh misls following the death of Guru Gobind Singh; they were
correction: were traditionally carpenters and blacksmiths. They were recruited by the British during the raj to serve in foreign wars as part of the colonial army. They relocated to colonies, mostly in Africa, and then relocated again in various parts of the diaspora, such as Great Britain.
Another group are the Vanjara who were/are nomadic merchants and traders. They became followers of Guruji during the time of Guru Nanak. Another group consists of Satnami Sikhis, also living in desperate poverty. This article at Sikh Review provides a lot of in-depth information.
Population of the Sikhs: Sikh Tribes Ignored
http://www.sikhreview.org/pdf/january2008/pdf-files/demography.pdf
These groups are often scattered about in small numbers, outside of Punjab. Lack of economic resources, poor education and low numbers compound their minority status. It is more difficult for them to exert the kind of political pressure they need to influence the system. Unlike the Ramgarhia, the "forgotten" Sikhs have fallen on hard economic times which over time made them 'invisible" rather than "untouchable."
This link gives very interesting demographics and other statistics, including a map of Sikligar in India. It shows them to be ranked no. 32 among the top 50 most persecuted people. The data is compiled by a Christian group who taking stock of the Sikligar status see them as ripe for conversion.
http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=18103&rog3=IN
A few years back the SGPC announced an initiative to welcome the "forgotten" Sikhs back to the panth. I do not know what came of that.
