2. SCHEDULED CASTE
• The term scheduled caste refers to the “untouchable castes”. The
untouchable caste are those who suffer from various social and political
disabilities many of which are traditionally prescribed and socially enforced
by higher castes [D.N. Majumdar]
• Those economically, socially, educationally, and politically backward castes
which are kept at a distance by the other castes as ‘untouchables’.
• Mahatma Gandhi first time used the word Harijan for untouchables meaning
“the people of God”
3. PROBLEMS OF THE SCHEDULED
CASTE
The scheduled caste or the Harijans suffered from centuries from a number of
social disabilities among which the following may be noted.
1. Lowest status in the hierarchy
In the caste hierarchy the scheduled castes are awarded the lowest
status. They are considered to be unholy, inferior, and low and low and are
hated by the other castes. They have suffered from the stigma of
untouchability. Their image is considered to be polluting for the upper castes.
Hence they have been treated as the servants of the other castes.
4. 2. Education disabilities
The harijans were prevented from taking up education during the early
days. Sanskrit education was not meant for them . schools and other
educational institutions were closed for them. Even today many of them are
illiterate and ignorant.
5. 3. Civic disabilities , Prevention from the use of public places
For a long time scheduled castes were not allowed to use public places
and avail of civic facilities such as village wells and ponds, temples, hostels ,
hotels, schools, hospitals, lecture halls, dharmashalas. They were forced to live
in the outskirts of the towns and villages during the early days.
6. SCHEDULED TRIBES
• A tribe is a collection of families bearing a common name, speaking a common
dialect, occupying or professing to occupy a common territory and is not usually
endogamous though originally it might have been so.
- Imperial Gazetteer of India
• A scheduled tribe refers to “a collection of families or group of families, bearing a
common name, members of which occupy the same territory, speak the same
language and observe certain taboos regarding marriage, profession or occupation
and have developed as well as assessed system of reciprocity and mutuality of
obligations. ”
- Dr. D.N. Majumdar
7. TRIBAL PROBLEMS
1. Geographic separation
The tribals of India are geographically separated from the rest of
population as they live in unapproachable physical areas like deep valleys, dense
forests, hills, etc. It is difficult for them to develop relations, and hence , socially
they are away from the civilized world.
8. 2. Cultural problems
The tribal culture is entirely different from civilized people. The tribal
people fail to mingle with the civilized people, their customs and practices,
beliefs and attitudes are different. They are suspicious towards the civilized
people. They cling strongly to their customs and traditions.
9. 3. Social problems
The tribals too have their own social problems. They are very
traditional and custom-bound, as a result they become the victims of
superstitious beliefs, outmoded and absured practices and habits. Child
marriage, infanticide, animal sacrifice, exchange of wives, black magic and other
harmful practices are still found along them. They believe in ghosts and spirits.
10. 4. Economic problems
Tribal people are the economically poorest people. Majority of them live
below the poverty line. Some of the economic problems are
a) Exploitation : The innocences, illiteracy and helplessness of the tribals are
exploited by outsiders.
b) Unprofitable agriculture: About 90% of the tribals are engaged in
cultivation and many of them are landless and engaged in shifting
cultivation. A very small percentage takes up occupational activities.
11. c) Land ownership problems: A huge portion of the tribal land has been legally
transferred to non-tribals. The tribals who have a feeling of deprivation of
their rights to the land and forest have reacted sharply to the restrictions
imposed by the government on their traditional rights.
d) Problems of banking facility: The number of banks in the tribal areas are
not sufficient to meet the demand of tribal population. As a result tribal people
have to mainly depend on moneylenders.
12. 5. Educational problems
Education is the major problem of the tribals . More than 80% of
them are illiterate. They have no faith in formal educational organization.
Majority of tribal people are engaged in agriculture, their children also engaged
in it. The illiterate parents do not give primary importance to education of their
children.
13. 6. Health and sanitation problems
Due to illiteracy and ignorance the tribal people are not able to develop
modern health and sanitation practice. They have their own belief systems
which results in failure to available modern facilities.
14. 7. Problem of separatism
a) Tribal revolts and uprising : Numerous revolts and tribal clashes have taken place
in many tribal areas in recent times. Latest example is ethnic violence in Assam in
2012. During these uprisings the Nagas, Mizos, and Bodos have been very active
and have created serious law and other problem in the region.
b) Smuggling ,infiltration and drug addiction: Boders of India (tribal belt) serve as an
infiltration channel from Bangladesh, Pakisthan, Burma, and China. Tribals being
innocent people , become a victim of smuggling activities. Prohibited drugs and
unlicenced weapons are smuggled in the country through these people. As a result
they become victim of drug addiction and trafficking activities.
15. BACKWARD CLASSES
Backward classes can be defined as a social category which consists of all
the socially, educationally, and politically backward groups , castes and tribes.
Those social groups , classes or castes which are characterized by illiteracy
and lack of education, poverty, exploitation of labour and non-representation
in services and untouchability.
16. PROBLEMS OF BACKWARD CLASS
• Low social position in caste hierarchy oh Hindu society.
• Inadequate or no representation in government services.
• Inadequate representation in the field of trade, commerce and industry.
• Lack of general advancement among the major sections of a caste or
community.
![SCHEDULED CASTE
• The term scheduled caste refers to the “untouchable castes”. The
untouchable caste are those who suffer from various social and political
disabilities many of which are traditionally prescribed and socially enforced
by higher castes [D.N. Majumdar]
• Those economically, socially, educationally, and politically backward castes
which are kept at a distance by the other castes as ‘untouchables’.
• Mahatma Gandhi first time used the word Harijan for untouchables meaning
“the people of God”](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)