Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes

The terms Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are used to describe historically marginalized groups of people in India who face continual social and economic discrimination. The Scheduled Castes consist of people who fall outside of India’s four-tier Varna caste system. These people are variously called Scheduled Castes, Dalits (meaning “broken people” in Sanskrit), Avarvnas (“without a class”), or Untouchables in Indian society. The Scheduled Tribes are composed of people from India’s non-Hindu tribes, many of which have been reduced to small communities that live in largely remote areas. The term “schedule” is derived from both groups’ inclusion in one of the twelve schedules of the Indian Constitution.

India's constitution recognizes the disadvantages experienced by the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes people and aims to provide some protections. For example, a percentage of slots at various public educational institutions and a share of government jobs are reserved for members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes people. In the 2011 Indian Census, members of the Scheduled Castes totaled 166.6 million people, or 16.6 percent of the population. Those included in the Scheduled Tribes category numbered 104.1 million people, or 8.6 percent of the population. The 2020 census was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but because census data informs important policy decisions and humanitarian assistance, the ambiguity in population count among these disadvantaged groups was another hindrance to equality.

Background

Various groups of people have been subjected to discrimination and marginalization in India. The caste system historically defined what roles a person could perform in Hindu society. Brahmins, the highest caste, consisted of intellectuals and priests. Kshatriyas, the next highest, were soldiers, while Vaishyas were traders. Sudras, the lowest recognized caste, were regarded as servants and laborers. People were typically born into a caste and, once defined as belonging to one of these categories, there was little opportunity for movement into a different caste. Even if someone from a lower caste became successful, they would still be perceived as a member of the original caste.

The Dalits fall outside of the Varna system. Traditionally, they were society’s outcasts who performed jobs considered too degrading for even the Sudras. They were expected to do tasks that were believed to be unclean, such as butchering animals or cleaning public latrines. As a result, they were deemed unclean and were avoided or treated poorly by the members of other castes. They were typically the most economically disadvantaged and had the fewest educational opportunities in Hindu society. For instance, even in the twenty-first century, they may not be allowed to drink water from community wells for fear of “tainting” the water, and they are often forced to sit in the back of school classrooms in many rural areas. They experience further segregation in housing, are denied access to public services, and are more likely to be victims of abuse and discrimination. Even in the mid-2020s, the Indian government reported that a crime was committed against a Dalit individual every eighteen minutes, thirteen were murdered each week, and twenty-seven atrocities were committed against Dalits each day.

The Scheduled Castes are composed of people who belong to India’s Indigenous population or ethnic minorities. These people generally speak their own languages, follow their own religions, and practice customs outside the norm in India. They often live on the margins of Indian society and, like the Dalits, are more likely to be economically and socially disadvantaged.

Beginning in the late nineteenth century, activists began protesting the poor treatment of these groups. They pressured the British government, which ruled India as a territory at the time, to offer them greater rights. In 1935, the British established the Government of India Act which provided many of the country’s most disadvantaged groups with special rights designed to improve their situations. The British defined these people as being “degraded,” a term that referenced their reduced status in Indian culture. Most importantly, this legislation ensured that these groups had special representation in Indian elections. The goal was to increase the number of economically and culturally disadvantaged people working in the Indian government so that these elected officials could specifically serve the needs of their people.

In 1936, each of the provincial governments was tasked with providing a list of groups meeting the criteria to be defined as degraded. Among the listed disadvantages were suffering due to ritual disabilities, including being denied entry into temples, or being a member of an “Other Backward Class.” All Dalits and an initial list of more than 200 Scheduled Tribes were included in this mandate.

Overview

When India gained independence in 1949, it set about establishing rules of order that would allow it to create the world’s largest modern democracy. The primary author of the new constitution was B.R. Ambedkar, who was himself regarded as a member of the Dalits despite being a trained lawyer.

These classes of people were initially singled out in the 1950 Indian Constitution as “Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.” The preamble to the Indian Constitution stated the new government’s intention to promote social justice and equality for all members of society. Article 15 specified that no Indian may discriminate against another person on the basis of caste, religion, race, or place of birth. However, the key language was found in Articles 330 through 342 of the Constitution. These articles provide the Indian president with the ability to decide which groups of people may be defined as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

No criteria are specifically defined regarding how Scheduled Tribes are determined, although the government has told activists representing these groups that the rules are “well-established.” To be defined as a Scheduled Tribe, the applying group must meet a set of guidelines that include geographical isolation, a distinctive culture, and shyness of contact with broader Indian society. In 1960, 225 groups were defined as a Scheduled Tribe; by the 2020s, the number had grown to more than 730. This massive growth, combined with the potential benefits of being part of a Scheduled Tribe, led to greater scrutiny of the groups applying for Scheduled Tribe status.

Several additional laws and initiatives have been passed since 1950, including the Civil Rights Act of 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989. Such legislation sought to advance the rights of disadvantaged groups, although these laws have shown limited success in helping integrate them into Indian society. The National Commission of Scheduled Castes (NCSC) was established in 1978 to investigate complaints of abuses against these groups and to monitor the successful implementation of the policies of the Indian Constitution regarding all groups with special entitlements.

Many other organizations advocate for and provide necessities to these marginalized groups. The Scheme of Assistance to Scheduled Castes Development Corporations (SCDCs) offers financial assistance to those who qualify. The Jharkhand State Scheduled Caste Co-operative Development Corporation (JSSCDC) works with Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe youth to promote employment and a better future.

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