Scheduled castes and development programmes in India

Studies on the Scheduled Castes have assumed greater significance in the field of social science research. One of the impor tant reasons for this is the changing socio economic status in the last few decades. Several emperical studies have exploded the myth that the Scheduled Castes cannot change their culture and proved that the Scheduled Castes have requisite skill and capabilities come up in life if they are given. adequate opportunities for their economic development and socio-cultural progress.

The theme of the present work is of much current interest in the developing economy of India and in the context of planned socio economic development with special reference to development progarmmes intended for the uplift of the scheduled castes. The most important aim of the work is to evaluate the impact of the programmes of develop ment on the scheduled castes in Andhra Pradesh, especially in the sectors of agri culture, animal husbandry and the tertiary occupation.

This work presents certain useful con clusions revealing the strengths and weak nesses of the development programmes. It rightly concludes that though the develop mental finance has played a vital role in providing for the increased output, increased net income, and improved asset position of the Scheduled Castes. It has yet to go a long way to help the total economic development of the Scheduled castes.