Welfare of Scheduled Castes in India

A social order does not originate; it evolves. Notwithstanding the fact, the caste as an important and indispensable part of the Indian lifestyle was always present, is present and shall always be present; howsoever one may wish to see it off. When caste is there, so shall be its victims; those who are or have suffered due to it for centuries. The problem of amelioration from sufferings of the depressed classes, as the Scheduled Castes were called earlier, evoked deep emotional response from all the social, religious and political leadership of the pre and post-independence India. The present work is a study of the origin of caste system and how it affected the social structure all during the gone period of time. This is to understand the problems faced by the Scheduled Castes in right perspective so as the solutions suggested by Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the two great stalwarts who staked their very life for ameliorating the conditions of these castes could be judged authentically. The book further examines the safeguards and other legislative measures enunciated by the founding fathers to bring these castes at par with the other citizens of India. Apart from the above, the book is an analytical study of the approach and strategy adopted by the Governments to ameliorate the conditions of the Scheduled Castes in the country, the various welfare schemes launched and their intended benefits, the quantum of funds spent and their sufficiency as to the task in hand. Whether the measures adopted over the years are in the right track and direction? Whether the benefits of welfare schemes have reached to the people for whom they were intended to or have been appropriated by few in these castes? Whether the scarce financial resources have been used prudently and efficiently or have been frittered away and wasted upon some non-productive schemes? The book attempts to find out the answers to these and many other such questions.