Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes: Difference between revisions

[[File:2011 Census Scheduled Caste caste distribution map India by state and union territory.svg|thumb|upright=1.55|Scheduled castes distribution map in India by state and union territory according to 2011 Census.<ref name=2011Census>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-Documents/SCST%20Presentation%2028-10-2013.ppt Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract]{{PPTlink}}, Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Government of India (28 October 2013).</ref> [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] had the highest percentage of its population as SC (~32%), while India's island territories and three northeastern states had 0%.<ref name=2011Census />]]

[[File:2011 Census Scheduled Tribes distribution map India by state and union territory.svg|thumb|upright=1.55|Scheduled Tribes distribution map in India by state and union territory according to 2011 Census.<ref name="2011Census"/> [[Mizoram]] and [[Lakshadweep]] had the highest percentage of its population as ST (~95%), while Punjab and [[Haryana]] had 0%.<ref name=2011Census/>]]

The '''Scheduled Castes'''<ref name="List of SC">{{cite web |title=Scheduled Caste Welfare – List of Scheduled Castes |url=http://socialjustice.nic.in/sclist.php |publisher=Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment |access-date=16 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913050030/http://socialjustice.nic.in/sclist.php |archive-date=13 September 2012  }}</ref> ('''SCs''') and '''Scheduled Tribes''' ('''STs''') are officially designated groups of people and among the most disadvantaged socio-economic groups in India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scheduled Castes And Scheduled Tribes|url=https://in.one.un.org/task-teams/scheduled-castes-and-scheduled-tribes/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-21|website=UNITED NATIONS IN INDIA}}</ref> The terms are recognized in the [[Constitution of India]] and the groups are designated in one or other of the categories.<ref name=scheduledcommunities />{{Rp|3}} For much of the period of [[British Raj|British rule in the Indian subcontinent]], they were known as the Depressed Classes.<ref name=scheduledcommunities />{{Rp|2}}

In modern literature, the ''Scheduled Castes'' are sometimes referred to as [[Dalit]], meaning "united/grouped together",<ref name=roychowdhury>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/research/dalit-scheduled-caste-information-and-broadcasting-media-5341220/|title=Why Dalits want to hold on to Dalit, not Harijan, not SC|date=September 5, 2018|website=[[The Indian Express]]|first=Adrija|last=Roychowdhury}}</ref> having been popularised by [[B. R. Ambedkar]] (1891–1956), a Dalit himself, an economist, reformer, chairman of the Constituent Assembly of India, and Dalit leader during the independence struggle.<ref name=roychowdhury /> Ambedkar preferred the term Dalit to [[Mahatma Gandhi|Gandhi]]'s term, [[Harijan]], meaning "person of [[Hari]]/[[Vishnu]]" (or Man of God).<ref name=roychowdhury /> In September 2018, the government "issued an advisory to all private satellite channels asking them to 'refrain' from using the nomenclature 'Dalit'", though "rights groups and intellectuals have come out against any shift from 'Dalit' in popular usage".<ref>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/union-minister-stick-to-sc-avoid-the-term-dalit/articleshow/65678197.cms Union minister: Stick to SC, avoid the term 'Dalit']  "Union social justice minister Thawarchand Gehlot said media should stick to the constitutional term "Scheduled Castes" while referring to Dalits as there are objections to the term to the term "Dalit" – backing the government order which has significant sections of scheduled caste civil society up in arms."  Times of India 5 September 2018.</ref>

The Scheduled Castes and [[List of Scheduled Tribes in India|Scheduled Tribes]] comprise about 16.6% and 8.6%, respectively, of India's population (according to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/hlo/pca/pca_pdf/PCA-CRC-0000.pdf |title=2011 Census Primary Census Abstract |website=Censusindia.gov.in|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="CensusDalit">{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Half-of-Indias-dalit-population-lives-in-4-states/articleshow/19827757.cms|title=Half of India's dalit population lives in 4 states|website=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref> The ''Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950'' lists 1,108 [[Caste system in India|castes]] across 28 [[States and territories of India|states]] in its First Schedule,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/rule3a.htm |title=Text of the ''Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950'', as amended|website=Lawmin.nic.in|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref> and the ''Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950'' lists 744 tribes across 22 states in its First Schedule.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/rule9a.htm|title=Text of the ''Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950'', as amended|website=Lawmin.nic.in|access-date=1 October 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920212634/http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/rule9a.htm|archive-date=20 September 2017}}</ref>

Since the independence of India, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were given [[reservation in India|Reservation status]], guaranteeing political representation, and the Constitution lays down the general principles of [[positive discrimination]] for SCs and STs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2020/feb/17/reserved-uncertainty-or-deserved-certainty-reservation-debate-back-in-mysuru-2104413.html|title=Reserved uncertainty or deserved certainty? Reservation debate back in Mysuru|website=The New Indian Express|date=17 February 2020|first=K Shiva|last=Kumar}}</ref><ref name=constitution>{{Cite web|url=https://legislative.gov.in/sites/default/files/COI_1.pdf|title=THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA [As on 9th December, 2020]|website=[[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)#Legislative Department|Legislative Department]]}}</ref>{{Rp|35,137}}

The evolution of low castes to modern-day Scheduled Castes is complex. The [[Caste system in India|caste system]] as a stratification of classes in India originated about 2,000 years ago, and has been influenced by dynasties and ruling elites, including the Mughal Empire and the British Raj.<ref name="What is India's caste system">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35650616|title=What is India's caste system?|date=20 July 2017|access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/caste-society-and-politics-in-india-from-the-eighteenth-century-to-the-modern-age/097D56E007498073B691A17EC3441FEB|title=Caste, Society and Politics in India from the Eighteenth Century to the Modern Age by Susan Bayly|last=Bayly|first=Susan|date=July 1999|website=Cambridge Core|doi=10.1017/CHOL9780521264341|isbn=9780521264341|access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref> The Hindu concept of [[Varna (Hinduism)|Varna]] [[History of Hinduism|historically]] incorporated occupation-based communities.<ref name="What is India's caste system"/> Some low-caste groups, such as those formerly called ''[[Untouchability|untouchables]]''<ref name="EB">{{cite book |last1=Pletcher |first1=Ken |last2=Staff of EB |title=Encyclopaedia Britannica |date=2010 |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/untouchable |access-date=25 June 2021 |language=en |chapter=Untouchable - social class, India}}</ref> who constitute modern-day Scheduled Castes, were considered outside the Varna system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/civil-rights|title=Civil rights {{!}} society|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asiasociety.org/education/jati-caste-system-india|title=Jati: The Caste System in India|website=Asia Society|access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref>

Since the 1850s, these communities were loosely referred to as Depressed Classes, with the Schedule Caste and Scheduled Tribes.The early 20th century saw a flurry of activity in the [[British Raj|British authorities]] assessing the feasibility of responsible self-government for India. The [[Indian Councils Act 1909|Morley–Minto Reforms Report]], [[Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms]] Report and the [[Simon Commission]] were several initiatives in this context. A highly contested issue in the proposed reforms was the reservation of seats for representation of the Depressed Classes in provincial and central legislatures.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/gandhi-ambedkar-and-the-1932-poona-pact/story-5WuyrphB8OwtRp5lC9XQGP.html|title=Gandhi, Ambedkar and the 1932 Poona Pact|date=October 1, 2019|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|first=Dhrubo|last=Jyoti}}</ref>

In 1935, [[United Kingdom Parliament|Parliament]] passed the [[Government of India Act 1935]], designed to give Indian provinces greater self-rule and set up a national federal structure. The reservation of seats for the Depressed Classes was incorporated into the act, which came into force in 1937. The Act introduced the term "Scheduled Castes", defining the group as "such castes, parts of groups within castes, which appear to His Majesty in Council to correspond to the classes of persons formerly known as the 'Depressed Classes', as His Majesty in Council may prefer".<ref name=scheduledcommunities>{{cite web|title=Scheduled Communities: A social Development profile of SC/ST's (Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal)|url=http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/sereport/ser/stdy_scmnty.pdf|website=[[Planning Commission (India)]]|access-date=1 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020195415/http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/sereport/ser/stdy_scmnty.pdf|archive-date=October 20, 2019}}</ref> This discretionary definition was clarified in ''The Government of India (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1936'', which contained a list (or Schedule) of castes throughout the British-administered provinces.<ref name=scheduledcommunities />

After independence the [[Constituent Assembly of India|Constituent Assembly]] continued the prevailing definition of Scheduled Castes and Tribes, giving (via articles 341 and 342) the president of India and governors of the states a mandate to compile a full listing of castes and tribes (with the power to edit it later, as required). The complete list of castes and tribes was made via two orders: ''The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/rule3a.htm|title=THE CONSTITUTION (SCHEDULED CASTES) ORDER, 1950|work=lawmin.nic.in}}</ref> and ''The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/rule9a.htm|title=1. THE CONSTITUTION (SCHEDULED TRIBES)|work=lawmin.nic.in|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920212634/http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/rule9a.htm|archive-date=20 September 2017}}</ref> respectively. Furthermore, independent India's quest for inclusivity was incident through the appointment of [[B. R. Ambedkar]] as the chair of the drafting committee for the Constitution. Ambedkar was a scheduled caste constitutional lawyer, a member of the low caste.<ref>{{Cite book |title=A Concise History of Modern India |last1=Metcalf|first1=Barbara D. |last2=Metcalf|first2=Thomas R. |publisher=Cambridge|year=2012|isbn=978-1-107-67218-5|location=New York|pages=232}}</ref>

The Constitution provides a three-pronged strategy<ref>[http://nhrc.nic.in/Publications/reportKBSaxena.pdf ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070508052156/http://nhrc.nic.in/Publications/reportKBSaxena.pdf |date=8 May 2007 }}</ref> to improve the situation of SCs and STs:

To effectively implement the safeguards built into the Constitution and other legislation, the Constitution under Articles 338 and 338A provides for two statutory commissions: the [[National Commission for Scheduled Castes]],<ref>{{cite web |title=National Commission for Schedule Castes |url=http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/organisation/national-commission-schedule-castes|website=Indiaenvironmentportal.org|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref> and the [[National Commission for Scheduled Tribes]].<ref>{{cite web |title=THE CONSTITUTION (EIGHTY-NINTH AMENDMENT) ACT, 2003 |url=http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend89.htm|website=Indiacode.nic.in|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref> The chairpersons of both commissions sit ''[[ex officio]]'' on the [[National Human Rights Commission of India|National Human Rights Commission]].Scheduled Castes in India.

In 1990, Article 338 was amended for the National Commission for SCs and STs with the ''Constitution (Sixty fifth Amendment) Bill, 1990''.<ref name=cons>{{cite web|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/coi/coiason29july08.pdf |title=Constitution of India as of 29 July 2008 |access-date=13 April 2011 |work=The Constitution of India |publisher=Ministry of Law & Justice |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909230437/http://lawmin.nic.in/coi/coiason29july08.pdf |archive-date=9 September 2014  }}</ref> The first commission under the 65th Amendment was constituted in March 1992, replacing the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the commission established by the Ministry of Welfare's Resolution of 1989. In 2003, the Constitution was again amended to divide the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes into two commissions: the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. Due to the spread of Christianity and Islam among schedule caste community converted are not protected as castes under Indian Reservation policy. Hence, these societies usually forge their community certificate as Hindus and practice Christianity or Islam afraid for their loss of reservation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Community-status-lapses-on-conversion-rules-Madras-High-Court/article12088388.ece|title=Community status lapses on conversion, rules Madras High Court|date=24 June 2013|website=Thehindu.com|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref>

The Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP) of 1979 mandated a planning process for the social, economic and educational development of Scheduled Castes and improvement in their working and living conditions. It was an umbrella strategy, ensuring the flow of targeted financial and physical benefits from the general sector of development to the Scheduled Castes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/plans/stateplan/scp%26tsp/noteguidelinesFor.doc|access-date=1 October 2017|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226071402/http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/plans/stateplan/scp%26tsp/noteguidelinesFor.doc|archive-date=26 February 2009|website=[[Planning Commission (India)]]|title=Letter from Joint Secretary (SP) to Planning Secretaries of All States/UTs|first=R|last=Sridharan|date=October 31, 2005}}</ref> It entailed a targeted flow of funds and associated benefits from the annual plan of states and Union Territories (UTs) in at least a proportion to the national SC population. Twenty-seven states and UTs with sizable SC populations are implementing the plan. Although the Scheduled Castes population according to the [[2001 Census of India|2001 Census]] was 16.66 [[crores]] (16.23% of the total population), the allocations made through SCSP have been lower than the proportional population.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Mannewar: A Tribal Community in India|last=Bone|first=Omprakash S.|publisher=Notion Press|year=2015|isbn=978-9352063444}}</ref> A strange factor has emerged of extremely lowered fertility of scheduled castes in [[Kerala]], due to land reform, migrating ([[Kerala Gulf diaspora]]) and democratization of education.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://pure.iiasa.ac.at/7495/|title=A paradox within a paradox: Scheduled caste fertility in Kerala|first1=Pallikadavath|last1=S.|first2=Wilson|last2=C.|date=1 July 2005|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|volume=40|issue=28|pages=3085–3093|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref>

<caption> '''States with population of Scheduled Castes as per 2011 census'''<ref>[http://socialjustice.nic.in/UserView/index?mid=76663 Government of India, Ministry of Social Justice website]</ref>

| 10,97,206

| [[Punjab]]

<caption> '''States with population of Scheduled Tribes as per 2011 census'''<ref>[https://trti.maharashtra.gov.in/index.php/en/statewise-total-tribal-population trti.maharashtra.gov.in/index.php/en/statewise-total-tribal-population]</ref>