CHAPTER 111 STATUS OF SCHEDULED CASTES

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1 CHAPTER 111 STATUS OF SCHEDULED CASTES

2 CHAPTER I11 STATUS OF SCHEDULED CASTES A study of the status of Scheduled Caste people in terms of population, literacy, occupational pattern, e tc., both at national and regional levels will enable us to understand the condition in which they are living and the extent to which thcy are to bc benefited from different schemes and programmes. The Scheduled Caste people, according to 1991 census, numbered crores and constituted per cent to the total population of the country. The percentage distribution of the Scheduled Caste population among the States (excluding Assam) shows that the major concentration of Scheduled Caste is in Uttar Pradesh (21.18%), West Bengal (11.63%), Bihar (9.09%)~ Tamil Nadu (7.74), Andhra Pradesh (7.6%), Madhya Pradesh (6.96%), Maharashtra (6.33%), Rajasthan (5.50%) and Karnataka (5.33%). Taken together, the Scheduled Caste population in these nine states comes to 73.76% of the total Scheduled Caste population in the country. (For details see Table 3.1).

3 Only 16 per cent of the Scheduled Caste in the country resides in the urban area. Bulk of them resides in the slums without basic amenities such as drinking water, link roads, sanitation, electricity, etc. Majority of (84 per cent) the Scheduled Caste population resides in the rural areas of India. The bulk of them are agricultural labourers or having minuscule holdings, or 'Bargadars' (Share croppers) or other type of insecure tenants. According to the 1991 census data for the country as a whole, the Scheduled Caste agricultural labourers constitute 48.22% of the total Scheduled Caste workers.

4 TABLE 3.1 TOTAL POPULATION AND PERCENTAGE OF SCHEDULE CASTE 1991 S1. India/State or Total Scheduled Caste NO, Union Territory Population Population Percentane of ('000) ('000) Total ~o~&tion INDIA* 838, , States 1 Andhra Pradesh 66,508 10, Arunachal Pradesh Assam 22,414 1, Bihar 86,374 12, Goa 1, Gujarat 41,310 3, Haryana 16,464 3, Himachal Pradesh 5,171 1, Karnataka 44,977 7, Kerala 29,099 2, Madhya Pradesh 66,181 9, Maharashtra 78,937 8, Manipur 1, Meghalaya 1, Mizoram Nagaland 1, Orissa 31,660 5, Punjab 20,282 5, Rajasthan 44,006 7, Sikkim TamilNadu 55,859 10, Tripura 2, Uttar Pradesh 139,112 29, WestBengal 68,078 16, Union Territories Andaman & Nicobar Islands 2 Chandigarh Dadra & Nagar Haveli Daman and Diu Delhi 9,421 1, Lakshadweep Pondicherry mituuuea ugurev or Ja Source: Census Report, 1991.

5 Of the total Scheduled Caste workers, per cent are cultivators. Almost all of them are only marginal and small land holders and naturally are in the poverty group along with the landless agricultural labourers. They put together form per cent of the total Scheduled Caste workers. Then there are traditional occupations such as leather work, handicrafts especially bamboo and cane weaving and fishing. These occupations are all in the unorganised sector, providing employment to the Scheduled Caste. There is another category of professionals engaged in carrying of night soil, flaying and tanning, etc. This occupational profile of Scheduled Caste is linked with very low economic and social status. Almost all of them are concentrated in rural areas. They 'have no productive assets and thereby suffer from the dual handicap of social disability and economic deprivation-social disabilities arising out of the stigma and untouchability and the economic deprivation arising out of exploitation and denial of opportunities for centuries. The practice of untouchability still persists in many regions of rural areas. In the urban areas, the overt practice of this form of social discrimination is much less although covert/disguised practice of it can be discerned in group actions.

8 Literacv Level The literacy level which is an important indicator of development is at a low level among Scheduled Caste people in the country. Efforts have been made to improve the rate of literacy among them over the Table 3.3 below gives the detailed picture of the literacy levels of SC/ST proportion and the rest of the population in the country decade- wise. TABLE 3,3 ALL INDIA LlTERACY LEVEL OF SC/STs (PERCENTAGE) Year 1961 SC ST 8.53 Rest of the population Gap between rest of the population' SC ST It can be observed from the above table that the literacy rate among the SC is per cent as against all-india average of per cent, efforts must be made to bring them on par with the national average. All India Literacy rate of Scheduled Caste, to the total population is shown in Table 3.4.

11 Occu~ational Pattern According to 1991 census, out of the total Scheduled Caste P opulation, 77% of them are engaged in agricultural activities and most of hem are working as agricultural labourers or having minuscule holdings or other type of insecure tenants. As it is reported in 1991 census, 48.22% of the total scheduled Caste are Agricultural Labourers, and engaged even in obnoxious and degraded occupations like sweeping and scavengers. Their skill base is rather weak. Considerable number of them are bonded labourers, 66% of the total identified bonded labourers are Scheduled Caste. The report oe Government of India, Department of Welfare, during the year is reported that 78% of SCs are living below poverty line in India. Further it is stated that the SCs contribution is significant in the sustenance and growth of the production system of the country and 7 nations economy". In this agriculture based economy the largest single group amongst agricultural labourers in the country are the SCs going upto as much as 61% In Haryana and 71% in Punjab; SC women in fact, constitute 72% of all women agricultural labourers in the coune.

12 Untouchability stands abolished by virtue of Article 17 of the Constitution and its practice in any form is punishable. But social discrimination against Scheduled Cask still continued in many parts of he country. It is a matter of concern that inspite of legal measures in the form of Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, 76,748 cases of atrocities against persons belonging to Scheduled Caste and 17,101 cases of atrocities against Scheduled Tribes were reported between 1986 and Of these, 3,328 cases were of murder, 5,339 of rape and 4,325 of arson. Women belonging to the Scheduled Caste are in a far worse situation by all development indicators. Poverty and deprivation affect them more adversely. Although they work along with men, they are not recognised as producers in their own right. The strategy for the development of Scheduled Caste will have to include a major thrust for the benefit of womenfolk.

13 SOCIOIECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF SCHEDULED CASTES IN KARNATAKA Scheduled Caste population in Karnataka constitute about one- sixth (16.38%) of its total population in 1991, and accounts for the major chunk of the weaker sections in the State. 81 percent of the SC people live in rural areas. There are 101 Castes in the list of Scheduled Caste in mnataka as on The list of Scheduled Tribes has 49 castes. Thus, all the 150 castes and tribes are recognised as SC/STs in Karnataka. The list of total population of Scheduled Castes in the 20 districts of Karnataka as on 1991 can be seen from the following Table 3.5:

14 TABLE 3.5 POPULATION PROFILE OF KARNATAKA: DISTRICT WISE S1. Total Total Population of No. District Rural Urban Population Scheduled Scheduled Castes Tribes - KARNATAKA 2 Bangalore Rural 5 Bidar 6 Bijapur

15 13 Kodagu 15 Mandya 16 Mysore 20 Ultar Kannada - Source Census Report, 1991.

16 The highest population of SC in the state concentrated more in ~~lbarga, Bijapur, Mysore, Bellary, ~olar and Bangalore Rural Districts, respectively. The lowest population is found in Kodagu and Coastal districts like Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada Districts. Out of the total castes listed under the Scheduled Caste the Adi- ~~rnataka (Holeyas, or Chaluvadis) a sub-caste is accountcd as high as 37 percent and Adi-Dravida (Yedagy or Madiga) accounted for 11 percent to be total population of the Scheduled Caste in Karnataka. follows: Districts wise literacy rate as on 1991 of SCs in Karnataka is as

17 TABLE 3.6 LITERACY RATES AS ON 1991 ang galore Bangalore Rural Chitradurga Kolar Shimoga Tumkur Chickmagalur DakshinaKannada Hassan Kodagu Mandya My sore Belgaum Bijapur Dharwad Uttar Kannada Bellary Bidar Gulbarga Raichur State Source: Census Report, SC Male (in Percentage) Population Female Total Male Total n Population Female Total

18 As per the data, the literacy rate, of SC at the State level are % for males and 19.23% for lemales as against the general literacy rates of 60% and 35% for males and females rcspcctively as on 1991 census. Bijapur, Chickmagalur, Dharwad, Hassan, Mandya and Mysore considerable inter district variation in literacy is notified and it is relatively more among females. Districts of Dakshina Kannada, Bangalore and Kodagu stands in the first 3 places with literacy rate more than 70% for males. Gulbarga, Raichur and Dharwad Districts relatively take last 3 ranks with male literacy rate less than 40% in regard to the female literacy rates. We can see that Bangalore takes back seat ranking 8th among the 20 districts. Dakshina Kannada, Kodaw and Mandya are * in the 3 place (with literacy rate exceeding 50%) and Raichur, Gulbarga and Bellary in last 3 ranks (with literacy rate less than 16%). Employment Structure According to 1991 census, the share of SC male and female agriculture labourers in total working force are 47% and 73% respectively, However, compared to the general population, where only 27% of males and 56% of females are agricultural labourers, the estimates

19 for SC population are higher. It means that the majority of agricultural labourers is from SC population. The remaining workers are cultivators and very negligible portion of workers are involved in Government sentices and other petty business. The details of SC agricultural labours can be seen in the table no. with comparison of total population.

20 TABLE 3.7 SHARE OF AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS IN TOTAL WORKING - POPULATION 1991 CENSUS SC Population Total Population ang galore Bangalore Rural chitradurga Kolar Shimoga Tumkur ~hickrnagalur DakshinaKannada Hassan Kodagu Mandya My sore Belgaum Bijapur Dharwad - U ttar Kannada Bellary Bidar G~lbarga Raichur State Male , Female Total Male Female , Total , source: Census Report, 1991.

21 According to the Agriculture Census of Karnataka, 45 percent of *e Scheduled Caste are basically landless people, but their main occupation is agricultural coolie. Among the agricultural labourers the P roportion of population of Scheduled Caste is around 65 percent, The scheduled Caste in the agricultural occupation is stated as 24 percent in the recent Agriculture Survey of 1995 (Census of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka). The share of land for Scheduled Caste is just 15 percent out of the total. Whereas the population of Scheduled Caste in the state as already quoted is around 22 percent; the small and marginal farmers constitute the major portion in the State. Among the small and marginal farmers the share of Scheduled Caste is 93 percent as recorded in the agriculture Census.

22 TABLE 3.8 AVERAGE SIZE OF LAND HOLDING ACCORDING TO SOCIAL GROUP SI. NO District Bangalore b an galore (R) Belgaum Scheduled Castes * 1.54, Scheduled Tribes * " 2.67 (in I-Ia.) Others I Tumkur Uttar Kannada, State I. Source: * indicate the average size of holding for erstwhile Ua~~galore District. Government of Karnataka - Census of Agriculture, , Dept. of Agriculture.

23 Average size of holding of scheduled castes had declined in from in all the districts except in Kodagu district where it remained the same. The decline ranged from 0.2 hectare in Belgaum district to 0.48 hectare in Bijapur district. This trend was generally noticed in the case of scheduled tribes also, but with the exception of Mandya and Mysore districts where the average size of holding had registered marginal increase of 0.08 hectare and 0.07 hectare respectively. The decline in the average holding size was in the range of 0.02 hectare in Uttara Kannada district to 1.14 hectares in Bidar district in respect of scheduled tribes. The average size of holding in the case of other social groups had declined in all the districts in the range of 0.10 hectare in Bangalore district to 0.63 hectare in Bidar district. The average size of holding of Scheduled Castes in varied from 0.53 hectare in Dakshina Kannada district to 2.74 hectare in Bijapur district. The average holding was less than one hectare in Dakshina Kannada (0.53 hectare), Kodagu (0.82 hectare), Mandya (0.74 hectare), Uttara Kannada (0.92 hectare), Bangalore and Bangalore (Rural 0.98 hectare) and Hassan (0.99 hectare) and it was higher than state average of 1.56 hectares in case of seven districts viz., Chitradurga, Bijapur, Dhwad, Bellary, Bidar, Gulbarga and Raichur districts.

24 In the case of scheduled tribes, the average size of holding was the highest in Bijapur district (3.09 hectares) and the lowest in Kodagu district (0.84 hectare). The average size of holding was higher than the state average of 2.17 hectares in 6 districts viz., Chitradurga, Bijapur, ~harwad, Bellary, Gulbarga and Raichur. In the case of other social groups the average size of holding varied from 0.84 hectare in Mandya district to 3.88 hectare in Bijapur district. The average size of holding was higher than the state average of 2.21 hectares in 9 districts viz., Chitradurga, Kodagu, Belgaum, Bijapur, Dharwad, Bellary, Bidar, Gulbarga and Raichur. Housing Facility At the state level 90 percent of the Scheduled Caste households have own houses, slightly more than 1/3rd houses are allotted by the government. The variation across the districts of SC households owning houses is negligible. However, a wide variation across the districts in the houses allotted by the government is noticed. The share of government allotted houses in total varies from 18% in Gulbarga to 74% in Bangalore according to housing report of Karnataka Nearly 50% of the houses have electricity facility. Roughly 314th of these households have got the electricity through Bhagya Jyothi scheme or through Mandala Jyothi at Gram Panchayat levels. The details are in the table below:

25 TABLE 3.9 SHARE OF HOUSEHOLDS HAVING HOUSING ELECTRICITY FACILITY (IN PERCENTAGES) AS ON 1995 Total Government % of Through ILS BJOGAS Allotted Households BJS/SWD Electrified ang galore ~ivbion Bangalore Bangalore Rural chitradurga Kolar l Shimga Tumkur 9l.2l Chickmagalur 86.30, Dakshia Kannada Hassan Kodagu Mandya Mysore ' 0.56 Belgaum s Bijapur Dharwad U ttar Kannada BellarY Bidar Gulbarga Raichur Total State Note: BJS/SWD: Bhagya Jyothi Scheme or by Social Welfare Deparhnent ILS: Jndividual Latrine. Source: Compendium of various annual reports of respective Departments, 1195.

26 UV~ Stock, Horticulture and Sericulture me following table provides the information on the households.wing livestuck. The share of government liwnced animals out of total animals in the State accounts to 30% among the SC households in livestock. 27 percent of Buffaloes and 35% of Sheeps and Goats are financed by the Government under the development programmes. The share of households involved in horticulture and sericulture are very low. At the state level, only 4% of households are involved in horticulture and only 1 % in Sericulture activity. But 80% of households who arc involved in Sericulture activity have got the financial assistance by the Government.

27 TABLE 3.10 ANIMAL HUSBANDRY (AH) State I kurce: Compilation of Reports of various Deparhnent with annual reports, 1995.

28 Amities on Scheduled Caste in Karnataka According to the provision of the Constitution of India the SC particularly untouchables have got some special Safe Guards in Socio- ~conomic aspects are concerned. Since it is the Constitutional obligation the State Government has established a separate Cell, generally these cells are called as Civil Rights Enforcement Cells (CRE-Cell). The Civil Rights Enforcement Cell is headed by a Senior IPS Officer; he has been made responsible to look into the grievances of the citizens in general and SC in particular. Wherever unlawful activities taking place in such circumstances, the intervention of the cell is compulsory, on the basis of cases reported to the concerned office. For one or the other reasons such incidents or cases will not be published. Wherever it is necessary such civil disputes issues will be reported to the respective Governments, for the next course of actions or for legislations. The data or the information regarding atrocities are not available. Eventhough with lot of strains some of the data information is gathered from the agency responsible for the present study. The available information are the cases registered with the police under different nature of atrocities on Scheduled Caste between 1992 to

29 1995. The total number of registered cases were 4513, out of which, 4140 cases related to Indian Penal code, Protection of Civil Rights and other General offences made against Scheduled Caste people in Karnataka. During the period of 1992 to 1995,69 murders, 1032 grievous hurts, 79 rapes and 89 arson cases (mass atrocities) have been registered. The details given in the following table. TABLE 3.11 STATEMENT SHOWING THE CASES REGISTERED WITH THE POLICY UNDER DIFFERENT NATURE OF ATROCITIES ON SCHEDULED CASTES IN KARNATAKA S1. Nature of Offence No Murder 2. Grievous hurts Rape Arson Other Offences (PC, PDA, PCR, ACT) Source: Official Document of Civil Rights Enforcement Cell, Government of Karnataka. The above factual states that the number of atrocities increasing Year by year. During the year 1992 the total number of 812 cases were As on the total of 1536 cases have been registered.

30 lt shows that the unrest of Scheduled Caste created by non-scs for one or the other, with or without reasons. On the basis of the total number of cases reported by the end of 1995, we can analyse that on an average, evcry day 4 to 5 famiiics are "ictimising for one or the other type of atrocities. Further it can be calculated that on an average once in 4.5 hours one member of SC community will be victimized in the State. Conclusion Scheduled Caste in India are basically landless, but main occupation is agriculture and allied activities. From among the land holders, majority oe them are small and marginal farmers. 80 per cent of them are in rural parts. Illiteracy and blind relief are main reason for the backwardness. All along the social stigma like untouchability, the living condition of Scheduled Caste people are below the national average. The life of Scheduled Caste in Karnataka is no way better than any parts of the country. Dry lands, small holds, agricultural occupation, educational and economic backwardness are the main feature of this community. The average standard of living of SC in the State is lower due to the recent awareness among SCs, the considerable attention of the system is being diverted to uplift this vulnerable community in the State.

31 REFERENCES Government of India, Census Report, Part 1 and 11. Government of India, Census Report, 1961,1971 and Government of India, Report of the Parliamentary Committee for %/ST, Government of Karnataka, Census of Agriculture , Dept. of Agriculture, Bangalore. Government of Karnataka, Housing Report of Karnataka, Government of ffimataka, Animal Husbandry Report of Karnataka, Govemment of Karnataka, Annual Reports of CRE Cell, 1992 to Government of India: Census of India and Govemment of Karnataka, Bangalore Rural District Gazetteer, Government of Karnataka, Handbook of Economics and Statistics, Bangalore, Bureau of Economics and Statistics, Government of Karnataka: Karnataka Anything a Glance, Bureau of Economics and Statistics, ' Govemment of Karnataka: Decentralised Planning, Karnataka shows the way, Department of Planning, Gow-nment of Karnataka: Karnataka Vikasa, Vol.XXLI1, 1988, Department of Mormation and Publicity, Bangalore. Government of Karnataka: Report of Zilla Panchayat, Bangalore Rural Distict Department of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Bangalore,

32 ~overnment of Kamataka, Annual Plans , Planning Department and Directorate of Social Welfare, Bangalore. Government of Kamataka: Eighth Five Year Plan (Draft) , Department of Planning, Bangalore. Government of Karnataka: Official Documents of Selected 8 Gram Panchayats of Bangalore Rural District. Government of India: Manual of IRDP , Ministry of Rural Development, New Delhi. Government of India: Manual of TRYSEM , Ministry of Rural Development, New Delhi. Government of India: Census of lndia , Series 2, Karnataka, District Census Handbook X-A, Dangalore Rural District, Directorate of Census Operations, Govcrnmcnt of Karmtilka, Bangalore.

AMERICAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION

AMERICAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC LITERATURE (1994- ) 1 March 2007 Volume XLV No. 1 (Also includes December 1994 through December 2006) Articles, Book Reviews, New Books, & Dissertations