BALL.B. – SEM.

II
SOCIOLOGY-II
LECTURE: SCHEDULED CASTE AND
THEIR PLACE IN INDIAN SOCIETY
(UNIT-I)
 All permanently organized societies are stratified.


 Most societies of the world have had their type of what Ward
calls “the lowly”. The Romans had their Plebeians, the Egyptians
their slaves, the Americans their Negroes and Germans their
Jews. Likewise, the Hindus have the “untouchables”.
 For no sins of theirs a large section of our population is suffering
from a number of disabilities arising out of untouchability.
 The constitution of independent India declares in an unequal
voice that untouchability is abolished and its practice in any
matter is punishable.
 The Schedule Castes occupy the bottommost rung of the social
ladder. They are generally regarded as untouchables and
popularly known as Harijans.
 According to Census report of 2011, the Scheduled Caste
constitute 166,635,700 ie; 16.2%
 People who constitute the bottom most place in the
Indian social stratification system are often regarded as
untouchables.
 All of them come under the category of what our
constitution calls the “Schedule Caste”. The term
scheduled caste was coined by the Simon Commission in
1928 and then Government of India Act-1935.
 Percentage to Total Population 2011
(Major States) INDIA
State/ Percentage State/ Percentage
Union Territory # Union Territory #

Top 5 Bottom 5

Scheduled Castes
Punjab 31.9 Gujarat 6.7
West Bengal 23.5 Assam 7.2
Uttar Pradesh 20.7 Jammu & Kashmir 7.4
Haryana 20.2 Kerala 9.1
Tamil Nadu 20.0 Maharashtra 11.8

Major States: States having Population 10 million and above.

Source: Primary Census Abstract for Total population, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 2011
Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India
 Definition

 The term schedule caste is nowhere defined in the

constitution.
 Article 341 and 342 of the Constitution empowers the

President of India in consultation with State Government

to notify by an order, the castes, races and tribes which
can be deemed as “Scheduled caste”.
According to Dr. D.N. Majumdar, the untouchable castes are
those who suffer from various social and political disabilities
many of which are traditionally prescribed and socially
enforced by higher castes”
 PROBLEMS OF SCHEDULE CASTE

Caste discrimination is a highly politicised and sensitive issue in India. Despite

constitutional safeguards and special legislation for the protection of the
country’s 201 million ‘scheduled castes’ (the official term for Hindu, Sikh and
Buddhist Dalits), violations of their fundamental human rights continue on a
massive scale. Key issues include access to justice and rising violence against
Dalits, multiple discrimination against Dalit women, slavery and child labour,
discrimination in education, untouchability and access to basic services including
humanitarian aid, social and economic rights and shrinking space for Dalit human
rights defenders.

Their problems can be grouped into

 Social Problems and Disabilities

 Economic Disabilities:

 Political Disabilities
Social Problems and Disabilities

 Lowest status in the Social hierarchy

 Civic Disabilities

 Religious disabilities

Educational disabilities & Poor educational performance

Literates & Literacy Rate INDIA
Indicator Literates Effective
Literacy Rate
2001 2011 2001 2011
Total Population
Total 33,65,33,716 43,46,83,779 75.3 80.9
Rural 22,34,93,084 28,12,81,531 70.7 77.2
Urban 11,30,40,632 15,34,02,248 86.3 88.8
Scheduled Castes (Males)
Total 4,74,32,887 6,64,76,908 66.6 75.2
Rural 3,58,23,885 4,86,72,140 63.7 72.6
Urban 1,16,09,002 1,78,04,768 77.9 83.3

Scheduled Castes (Females)

Total 2,78,85,398 4,72,82,999 41.9 56.5
Rural 1,99,82,381 3,33,48,092 37.8 52.6
Urban 79,03,017 1,39,34,907 57.5 68.6
Source: Primary Census Abstract for Total population, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 2011
Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India
Literates & Literacy Rate (Females) INDIA
Indicator Literates Effective
Literacy Rate
2001 2011 2001 2011
Total Population
Total 22,41,54,081 32,88,14,738 53.7 64.6
Rural 13,82,43,517 20,13,72,009 46.1 57.9
Urban 8,59,10,564 12,74,42,729 72.9 79.1
Scheduled Castes
Total 2,78,85,398 4,72,82,999 41.9 56.5
Rural 1,99,82,381 3,33,48,092 37.8 52.6
Urban 79,03,017 1,39,34,907 57.5 68.6
Scheduled Tribes
Total 1,18,22,216 2,15,68,511 34.8 49.4
Rural 1,01,01,983 1,83,83,774 32.4 46.9
Urban 17,20,233 31,84,737 59.9 70.3
Source: Primary Census Abstract for Total population, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 2011
Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India
 Economic Disabilities:

 No Right of Property Ownership

 Selection of Occupations Limited:
 Landless Labourers:
Political Disabilities
 The untouchables hardly participated in the
political matters. They were not given any place
in the politics, administration and the general
governance of India, they were not allowed to
hold any public post
 After independence equal political opportunities
and rights have been provided for the Harijans
also.
 Politically, the Harijans are yet to become an
organised force.
Problems of Atrocities against untouchables

 The National Crime Records Bureau's (NCRB) 'Crime

in India' report for the year 2022 shows Dalits in
India continue to be vulnerable to caste-based
atrocities. A total of 57,582 cases were registered
for committing crime against Scheduled Castes (SCs),
an increase of 13.1% over 2021 (50,900 cases).
Top Three states in terms of atrocities
against Dalits reported

State 2021 2022

Uttar Pradesh 13,146 15,368
Rajasthan 7,524 8,752
Madhya Pradesh 7,214 7,733

(The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report on crime in 2021&2022)

 Top ten cities in terms of number of
crimes against Dalits reported
 Lucknow 420
 Jaipur 381
 Kanpur 376
 Bengaluru 231
 Ahmedabad 189
 Delhi City 129
 Hyderabad 113
 Kanpur 107
(The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report on crime in 2022)
 Atrocities against Dalits, by crime

 Assault on SC women to outrage her modesty

 Rape
 Rioting
 Grievous hurt
 Murder
 Attempt to commit murder
 Arson
 Attempt to commit rape
 Insult to modesty of SC women
 Robbery
 Dacoity
MEASURES FOR THE WELFARE OF
SCHEDULE CASTES
 The Constitutional Measures

 Legislative Measures

 Other welfare Measures and programmes

 The Constitutional Measures
The Government of India has incorporated some special provisions in its Constitution for the removal of untouchability
and to promote the welfare of SCs and STs. The Constitution ensures the protection and assures the promotion of
interests of SCs, STs and other weaker sections of the population in the fields such as (1) political representation, (2)
representation in services, (3) economic development, (4) socio-cultural safeguards and (5) legal support.

 The Preamble of the Constitution of India declares that it assures equality, promotes fraternity, guarantees liberty
and ensures justice to one and all.
 Articles 15,16,17,38 and 46 guarantee that the state shall not discriminate between persons on account of their
religion or region and caste or class.
 Article 15 prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, caste, race, sex or place of birth.
 Article 17 abolishes untouchability. It is further provided that the enforcement of any disability arising out of
untouchability shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law.
 Article 46 promotes educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker
sections.
 Article 330 reserves representation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People.
 Article 334 relates to reservation of seats and special representation to cease after fifty years [Originally
reservation was made for ten years and it was extended four times, the present period of expiry being 2000
A.D.)
 Article 335 mentions the claims of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to services and posts.
 Article 338 empowers the Central Govt. to appoint a National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes.
 Article 339 empowers the President to appoint a Commission to report on the administration of the Scheduled
Areas and the welfare of Scheduled Tribes in the States.
 Article 341 empowers the President to specify the castes, races or tribes deemed as Scheduled Castes in a
particular State or Union territory.
 Article 342 empowers the President to specify the tribes or tribal communities deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in
a particular State or Union territory.
Legislative measures

 Protection of Civil rights Act, 1976 (Untouchability

Offences Act, 1955)
 Schedule caste and scheduled tribes (prevention of
Atrocities) Act, 1989
 Special Measures Undertaken by Some States to
Give Protection to SCs Against Atrocities.
 Other welfare Measures and
programmes
 Appointment of a National Commission for the Welfare
of Scheduled Castes.
 Educational Opportunities
 Expansion of Economic Opportunities
 Expansion of Employment Opportunities and
Reservation.
 Upliftment of Scheduled Castes through Five-Year
Plans:
Appointment of a National Commission
for the Welfare of Scheduled Castes.
 A National Commission for the Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes has been set up by the Central
Government to safeguard the interests of the SCs
and STs. It functions as an advisory body on issue
and policies related to the development of the SCs
and STs. The State Governments have separate
departments to look after the welfare of the SCs
and STs. Their administrative set up varies from state
to state.
Educational Opportunities

 Due attention is paid to extend the educational opportunities of SCs and STs
and hence special provisions have been made in this regard. Free education,
free distribution of books, stationery, uniform etc. giving scholarships,
banking loan facilities, providing mid-day meal, arranging for free boarding
and lodging facilities, reserving seats for SCs and STs in all the government and
government aided institutions, etc. are some of the concrete steps which the
Government has taken in this regard.
 Scheme For Residential Education For Students in High
Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA)
The main objective behind the scheme is to involve the voluntary
sector and training institutions of repute to improve educational
and socioeconomic conditions of the target group i.e. Scheduled
Castes with a view to upgrade skill to enable them to start income
generating activities on their own or get gainfully employed in
some sector or the other. The principle that good voluntary
organizations should not only be assisted but also consciously built
up has been guiding spirit behind the formulation of the Scheme.
Pre-Matric Scholarships:
These are summarized below:

 Pre-Matric Scholarship to SC Student: The objective of the pre-

matric Scheme is to support the parents of SC children for educating
their wards, so that the incidence of drop outs at this stage is
minimized.
 Pre-Matric Scholarship to the Children of those engaged in
occupations involving cleaning and prone to health hazards: This
is also a centrally sponsored scheme, which is implemented by the
State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, which
receive 100% central assistance from the Government of India for
the total expenditure under the scheme, over and above their
respective Committed Liability. The scheme was started in 1977-78.
 Post Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Caste Students (PMS-
SC)
 The Scheme is the single largest intervention by
Government of India for educational empowerment of
scheduled caste students. The Scheme is in operation since
1944. This is a centrally sponsored scheme. 100% central
assistance is released to State Governments/UTs for
expenditure incurred by them under the scheme over and
above their respective committed liability.
 Upgadation Of Merit Of SC Students

The objective of the Scheme is to upgrade the merit of

SC students by providing them remedial and special coaching
in classes IX to XII. While the remedial coaching aims at
removing deficiencies in various subjects, the special coaching
is provided with a view to prepare the students for
competitive examinations for seeking entry into professional
courses like engineering and medical discipline
 Scholarships for obtaining Higher
Education and Coaching Scheme:
These include:
 1. Top Class Education for Scheduled Caste Students: The objective of the Scheme is to
promote qualitative education amongst students belonging to Scheduled Castes, by providing
full financial support for pursuing studies beyond 12th class, in notified institutes of excellence
like IITs, NITs, IIMs, reputed Medical/Law and other institutions. Scholarship is awarded to the
eligible SC students on securing admission in any of the institutions notified by the Ministry.
 2. National Fellowship: The Scheme provides financial assistance to SC students for pursuing
research studies leading to M.Phil, Ph.D and equivalent research degrees.
 3. National Overseas Scholarship: The Scheme provides assistance to students belonging to
SCs, de-notified, nomadic, semi-nomadic tribes etc for pursuing higher studies of Master level
courses and PhD programmes abroad.
 4. Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students: The objective of the Scheme is to provide
coaching of good quality for economically disadvantaged SC and OBC candidates to enable
them to appear in competitive examinations and succeed in obtaining an appropriate job in
Public/Private sector. The Scheme provides central assistance to institutions/centres run by the
Central/State Governments/UT Administrations, Central/ State Universities, PSUs, Registered
Private Institutions, NGOs, etc. Coaching is provided for Group 'A' & 'B' examinations
conducted by the UPSC, SSC, various Railway Recruitment Boards and State PSCs; Officers’
Grade examinations conducted by Banks, Insurance Companies and PSUs; and Premier
Entrance examinations for admission in Engineering, Medical and Professional courses like
Management, Law etc.
 Schemes for economic development
 National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC): Set up under
the Ministry, to finance income generating activities of Scheduled Caste beneficiaries living
below double the poverty line limits (presently Rs 98,000/- per annum for rural areas and Rs
1,20,000/- per annum for urban areas). NSFDC assists the target group by way of refinancing
loans, skill training, Entrepreneurship Development Programmes and providing marketing
support through State Channelizing Agencies, RRBs, Public Sector Bank and Other Institutions
 National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC): It is another
corporation under the Ministry which provides credit facilities to beneficiaries amongst Safai
Karamcharis, manual scavengers and their dependants for income generating activities for
socio-economic development through State Channelizing Agencies
 Special Central Assistance (SCA) to Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP): It is a policy
initiative for development of Scheduled Castes in which 100 % assistance is given as an
additive to SCSP of the States/ UTs on the basis of certain criteria such as SC population of
the States/UTs, relative backwardness of States/UTs, percentage of SC families in the States/
UTs covered by composite economic development programmes in the State Plan to enable them
to cross the poverty line, etc. It is an umbrella strategy to ensure flow of targeted financial and
physical benefits from all the general sectors of development for the benefit of Scheduled
Castes. Under this Scheme, the States /UTs are required to formulate and implement Special
Component Plan (SCP) for Scheduled Castes as part of their annual plans by earmarking
resources
 Schemes for economic development
 Scheme of Assistance to Scheduled Castes Development Corporations
(SCDCs): Share Capital contribution is released to the State Scheduled Castes
Development Corporations (SCDCs) under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in the
ratio of 49:51 between Central Government and State Governments. There are
in total 27 such State-level Corporations which are working for the economic
development of Scheduled Castes, although some of these Corporations are
also catering to the requirements of other weaker sections of the Society, e.g.
Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, Minorities etc. The main functions of SCDCs include
identification of eligible SC families and motivating them to undertake economic
development schemes, sponsoring the schemes to financial institutions for credit
support, providing financial assistance in the form of the margin money at a low
rate of interest, providing subsidy out of the funds made available to the States
under the Scheme of Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan
of the States to reduce the repayment liability and providing necessary tie up
with other poverty alleviation programmes. The SCDCs are playing an
important role in providing credit and missing inputs by way of margin money
loans and subsidy to the target group. The SCDCs finance the employment
oriented schemes covering diverse areas of economic activities which inter-alia
include (i) agriculture and allied activities including minor irrigation (ii) small
scale industry (iii) transport and (iv) trade and service sector
Schemes for economic development
 Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes: The objective of the fund is to
promote entrepreneurship amongst the Scheduled Castes who are oriented
towards innovation and growth technologies and to provide concessional
finance to the scheduled caste entrepreneurs. The fund has been launched
on 16.01.2015. During 2014-15, Rs.200 Crore were released initially for
the Fund to IFCI Limited (Industrial Finance Corporation of India), which is
a Nodal agency to implement it
 Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme for Scheduled Castes: The
objective of this Scheme is to provide credit guarantee facility to Young
and start-up entrepreneurs, belonging to Scheduled Castes, who aspire to
be part of neo middle class category, with an objective to encourage
entrepreneurship in the lower strata of the Society resulting in job creation
besides creating confidence in Scheduled Castes. The Scheme has been
launched on 06.05.2015. Initially, Rs.200 Crore has been released under
the Scheme to IFCI Limited, which is a Nodal agency to implement it.
 Expansion of Employment Opportunities
and Reservation
 In order to enhance the economic position of the SCs and STs the
Constitution has provided for the reservation in services.
Reservation of jobs operates in the all-India Services, Central
Government, State Governments, and Government owned and
managed public sector units and institutions.
 Reservation exists in all these for the SCs and STs to the tune of
15% and 7.5% respectively. Several State Governments have
introduced reservation for OBC’s (Other Backward Classes) also.
 In government services, special quotas are also allotted to them.
The reservations are also extended to promotions’ to higher
positions to facilitate their adequate representation. Concessions
such as relaxation in the standards of suitability, relaxation of the
qualification and experience, have also been provided to them.
 Schemes for Social Empowerment

 The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955: In pursuance of Article 17 of the

Constitution of India, the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955 was enacted and
notified on 08.05.1955. Subsequently, it was amended and renamed in the year
1976 as the "Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955". Rules under this Act, viz “The
Protection of Civil Rights Rules, 1977” were notified in 1977. The Act extends to
the whole of India and provides punishment for the practice of untouchability. It is
implemented by the respective State Governments and Union Territory
Administrations. Assistance is provided to States/ UTs for implementation of
Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955.
 Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,
1989: Assistance is provided to States/ UTs for implementation of Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Financial
assistance is provided to the States/ UTs for implementation of these Acts, by way
of relief to atrocity victims, incentive for inter-caste marriages, awareness
generation, setting up of exclusive Special courts, etc. Scheduled Castes and the
Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 (No. 1 of 2016)
was notified in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary) on 01.01.2016. The
Amended Act came into force w.e.f 26.01.2016.
 Schemes for Social Empowerment
 The ‘Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013’ (MS Act,
2013):
 Eradication of dry latrines and manual scavenging and rehabilitation of manual scavengers in
alternative occupation has been an area of high priority for the Government. Towards this end, a multi-
pronged strategy was followed, consisting of the following legislative as well as programmatic
interventions:
 1. Enactment of “Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act,
1993(1993 Act);”
2. Integrated Low Cost Sanitation (ILCS) Scheme for conversion of dry latrines into sanitary latrines in
urban areas; and
3. Launching of National Scheme for Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers (NSLRS).
4. Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers.
 In spite of the above measures taken by the Government, manual scavenging continued to exist which
became evident with the release of 2011 the Census data indicating existence of more than 26 lakh
insanitary latrines in the country. Therefore, Government decided to enact another law to cover all
types of insanitary latrines and situations which give occasion for manual scavenging. The ‘Prohibition
of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013’ (MS Act, 2013) was passed
by the Parliament in September, 2013 and has come into force from 6th December, 2013. This Act
intends to, inter alia, achieve its objectives to:
 1. Identify and eliminate the insanitary latrines.
2. Prohibit:- i) Employment as Manual Scavengers and ii) Hazardous manual cleaning of sewer and
septic tanks
3. Identify and rehabilitate the manual scavengers.
Other Schemes:
 Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY): The Centrally Sponsored
Pilot Scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana’ (PMAGY) is being
implemented for integrated development of Scheduled Castes (SC) majority
villages having SC Population concentration > 50%. Initially the scheme was
launched in 1000 villages in 5 States viz. Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh,
Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. The Scheme was further revised w.e.f. 22.01.2015
and extended to 1500 SC majority villages in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Haryana, Chhattisgarh,
Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Odisha. The principal objective of
the Scheme is integrated development of SC Majority Villages:
 1. Primarily through convergent implementation of the relevant Central and
State Schemes;
 2. By providing these villages Central Assistance in form of gap-filling funds to
the extent of Rs.20.00 lakh per village, to be increased by another 5 lakh if
State make a matching contribution.
 3. By providing gap-filling component to take up activities which do not get
covered under the existing Central and State Government Schemes are to be
taken up under the component of ‘gap filling’.
Other Schemes:
 Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojna: The primary
objective of the Scheme is to attract implementing
agencies for undertaking hostel construction programme
with a view to provide hostel facilities to SC boys and
girls studying in middle schools, higher secondary schools,
colleges and universities. The Scheme provides central
assistance to State Governments/ UT Administrations,
Central & State Universities/ Institutions for fresh
construction of hostel buildings and for expansion of the
existing hostel facilities. The NGOs and Deemed
Universities in private sector are eligible for central
assistance only for expansion of their existing hostels
facilities.
Other Schemes:
 Dr. Ambedkar Foundation: Dr. Ambedkar Foundation
was set up on 24th March 1992, as a registered
body, under the Registration of Societies Act, 1860,
under the aegis of the Minsitry of Welfare,
Government of India. The primary object of setting up
of the Foundation is to promote Dr. Ambedkar’s
ideology and philosophy and also to administer some
of the schemes which emanated from the Centenary
Celebration Committee’s recommendations.
Other Schemes:
 Babu Jagjivan Ram National Foundation: The Babu
Jagjivan Ram National Foundation was established by
the Government of India as an autonomous
organization under the Ministry of Social Justice &
Empowerment and registered under The Societies
Registration Act, 1860 on 14th March 2008. The main
aim of the Foundation is to propagate the ideals of the
late Babu Jagjivan Ram, on social reform as well as his
ideology, philosophy of life, mission and vision to
create a casteless and classless society.
Voluntary Organisations:
 In addition to the Governmental schemes and
instruments, some of the voluntary organisations are
also playing an important role in promoting the
welfare of the SCs.
 The Central Government has been giving financial
assistance to these organisations for their Harijan
Welfare activities.
 Some other organisations which are not getting any
financial help from the Government are also
rendering Yeomen service to the Scheduled Castes.
Present situation

 Some individuals, families and groups from amongst the

scheduled castes have achieved social mobility. But the over-
whelming majority of the scheduled castes still constitutes the
most backward section of society. They suffer from
traditional disabilities and deprivations, more in rural than in
urban areas.
 Occupational mobility of the scheduled castes has been
very limited. They are under-represented in Class I and II
services but over-represented in Class III and IV services.
 In politics, they are treated as a ‘vote bank’.
 Educationally they are still backward.
 Economically, they constitute the bulk of the people living
below the poverty line.
 Oppression and atrocities against the scheduled castes
continue to exist even now.
 On the contrary, we witness sharpening of conflicts
between the scheduled castes and dominant section of
the population. This is reflected in the emergence of
anti-reservation riots in urban areas and increasing
atrocities on the scheduled castes in rural areas.
 Generally speaking, the whole of the backward classes
is backward in social, economic, political and
educational domains. Their backwardness is reflected
in their underrepresentation in central government
services
 Moreover, we observe that the policy of reservation
has led to the growth of a small group of elites from
amongst the backward classes. They are well
educated, economically prosperous and politically
vocal. The benefits of reservation are mainly cornered
by them.
 The scheduled caste elites, both in the towns and the
villages show little concern for their lowly brethren.
Instead, they are largely concerned with their own self-
interests and those of their family and kin.