An Evaluative Study of Socio-Economic Development of Scheduled Castes in India: With Special Focus on Scheduled Caste Sub Plan

Abstract

Education is the most important tool for empowerment and a means to achieve better standard of living, employment increases productivity and quality of life and health indicates the well being of a human being along with contributing to his/her productivity. These three factors present the socioeconomic status. The Scheduled Caste (SC) population of India (16.8%- Census 2011) has had a history of being excluded from basic rights which had an adverse effect on their socio-economic development. Inclusion of SCs has always been important from the point of view of the policymakers too, (The motto of the 11th five year plan). Many other policies have been formulated for the socioeconomic development of the SCs and many are directed solely towards the improvement of their educational, employment and health levels. Hence, it is crucial to assess the development levels of the SCs. Many other factors determine the socio-economic level of the SCs but education, employment and health are the main focus of this paper. This paper throws light on the educational, employment and health status of the SCs and compares it with that of the total population in India since around 2000-01 to 2014-15. The Scheduled Caste SubPlan and some centrally sponsored policies are also analysed to know the amount allocated for the inclusion of the SCs.