Constitutional Provisions Available To Schedule Caste & Schedule Tribe

Abstract

These two terms schedule caste and schedule tribe in British time are known as depressed class. "Dalits" were termed as Schedule caste and "adivasis" were termed as Schedule Tribe. According to 2011 census the Scheduled Castes comprise about!6.6 percent and schedule tribes comprise about8.6 percent. They are the most neglected and exploited people India. Even though we are having Article 17 in our constitution regarding abolition of untouchability sill problems persist. If the law is not in favors of SC & ST, they will never achieve true equality of opportunity and freedom of choice. The nation's unity will be at risk. This is perhaps because of the mindset of certain sections of the society. SC & ST , together constitute the vast and not merely a section in the society The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 lists 1,108 castes across 29 states in its First Schedule, and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 lists 744 tribes across 22 states in its First Schedule. Since independence, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were given Reservation status, guaranteeing political representation. The Constitution lays down the general principles of affirmative action for SCs and STs. If we are having right to equality then how we can differentiate between human being. Somehow we are decorating the very essence of our Indian constitution .The injustice to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes for no reason other than the pure accident of birth have few parallels in the history of civil society.