SCHEDULED CASTES

Scheduled castes are those castes/races in the country that suffer from extreme social,
educational and economic backwardness arising out of age-old practice of untouchability
and certain others on account of lack of infrastructure facilities and geographical isolation,
and who need special consideration for safeguarding their interests and for their
accelerated socio-economic development. These communities were noti ed as Scheduled
Castes as per provisions contained in Clause 1 of Article 341 of the Constitution.
Scheduled castes are sub-communities within the framework of the Hindu caste system
who have historically faced deprivation, oppression, and extreme social isolation in India
on account of their perceived 'low status'.
Only marginalised Hindu communities can be deemed Scheduled Castes in India,
according to The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.
Those who belonged to one of the four major varnas are called Savarna. The Hindu four-
tier caste system, or varna system, forced these communities into work that predominantly
involved sanitation, disposal of animal carcasses, cleaning of excreta, and other tasks that
involved contact with "unclean" materials. The communities adapted the name Dalit, or
Harijan, which meant 'children of god.' The avarna communities were also referred to as
"Untouchables". They were prohibited from drinking water from shared water sources,
living in or using areas frequented by "higher castes," and faced social and economic
isolation, often being denied rights and privileges that many born into savarna castes
consider "fundamental rights".

De nition of Scheduled Castes

According to Dr. D.N. Majumdar the term 'Scheduled Castes' refers to the Untouchable
Castes". "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"
We can de ne the scheduled castes as those economically, socially, educationally and
politically backward castes which are kept at a distance by the other castes as
"untouchables"
Scheduled Castes are those untouchable castes which are subject to some disabilities in
every walk of life social, religious, educational, economic and political. Examples: Madiga
Chalavadi gas, Billavas, Edigas, Korama, Machigars, Dhoras, Samagaras, Mahars,
Mangs, Holeyas, Upparas, Ezhavas, Chamars.

Problems of the Scheduled Castes

(a) The Social Restrictions and Disabilities of the Scheduled Castes -

The Scheduled Castes or the Harijans suffered for centuries from a number of social
disabilities among which the following may be noted.
• Lowest status in the hierarchy: In the Caste hierarchy the Scheduled Castes are
ascribed the lowest status. They are considered to be "unholy, " inferior' and 'low' and
are looked down upon by the other castes. They have been suffering from the stigma of
untouchability". Their very touch is considered to be polluting for the higher caste people.
Hence they have been treated as the servants of the other caste people. The Scheduled
Castes have always served the other castes, but the attitude of other castes is of total
indifference and contempt. They were kept at a distance from other caste people. In
some instances (in South India) even the exact distance which an upper caste man was
expected to keep between himself and the Harijans was speci ed.
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 • Education disabilities: The Harijans were forbidden from taking up to education during
the early days. Sanskrit education was denied for them. Public schools and other
educational institutions were closed for them. Even today majority of them are illiterate
and ignorant.
• Civic disabilities & Prevention from the use of public places:For a long time the
untouchable castes were not allowed to use public places and avail of civic facilities such
as-village wells, ponds, temples, hostels, hotels, schools, hospitals, lecture halls,
dharamashalas, choultries, etc. They were forced to live on the outskirts of the towns
and villages during the early days. Even today they are segregated from others spatially.
In South India, restrictions were imposed on the mode of construction of their houses,
types of dresses and patterns of their ornamentation. Some lower caste people were not
allowed to carry umbrellas, to wear shoes or golden ornaments and to milk cows. They
were prohibited from covering the upper part of their body.
(b) Religious Disabilities -
The Harijans also suffer from religious disabilities even today. They are not allowed to
enter temples in many places.
The brahmins who offer their priestly services to some lower castes, are not prepared to
of ciate in the ceremonies of the 'untouchable' castes. They do not even bow down to the
duties of these untouchable' castes. The Vedic mantras which are considered to be more
pure, could not be listened to and chanted by the Harijans because of the taboos. They
were only permit- ted to make use of the upanishadic mantras which are considered to be
less pure. Burial grounds were also denied for them in many places.
(c) Economic Disabilities -
The Harijans are economically backward and have been suffering from various economic
disabilities also.
• No right of property ownership: For centuries the Harijans were not allowed to have
land and business of their own.
It is only recently their ownership to the property has become recognised. The propertied
people are comparatively less in them. Majority of them depend upon agriculture but only
a few of them own land.
• Selection of occupations limited:The Caste system imposes restrictions on the
occupational choice of the members.The occupational choice was very much limited for
the Harijans. They were not allowed to take up to occupations which were reserved for
the upper caste people. They were forced to stick on to the traditional inferior
occupations such as- curing hides, removing the human wastes, sweeping, scavenging,
oil grinding, tanning, shoemaking, leather works, carrying the dead animals, etc. These
occupations were regarded as 'degraded" and 'inferior'.
• Landless labourers: Majority of the Harijans are today working as landless labourers.
More than 90.1 of the agricultural labourers in India belong to the depressed classes
which include the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. More than 77.1% of the
Scheduled Caste workers in rural areas are agricultural labourers. A large number of
Harijan families are in debts. About 64.1% of the agricultural labour households of the
Scheduled Castes were indebted during 1956-57 as against 45.1% in 1950-51. The
average accumulated debt per household increased from Rs. 47 in 1950-51 to Rs. 88 in
1956-57. Their indebtedness is increasing day by day. The Harijans are economically
exploited by the upper caste people. Even today they are the lowest paid workers, some
of them continue to suffer as bonded labourers at the hands of the higher caste people.
(d) 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. Political rights and representation were denied for them.
Under the British rule, they were given the right to vote for the rst time. After
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independence equal political opportunities and rights have been provided for the Harijans
also. Politically, the Harijans are yet to become an organised force.