On August 21, Dalit organizations across the country have called for a Bharat Bandh. This protest is in response to the Supreme Court’s order on August 1, which granted state governments the authority to sub-classify Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Dalit organizations argue that sub-classification within Dalits and the proposal of a creamy layer will eventually erode their reservation benefits. While the Supreme Court’s order does not mention the creamy layer, Justice B.R. Gavai of the seven-judge bench did express this view, which was supported by several other judges. However, this opinion was not included in the operative part of the judgment. As for sub-classification, the Supreme Court stated that it should be implemented only if data on the backwardness of caste groups is available. It also bolstered the demand for conducting a socio-economic caste census, including a column for occupation. If the Supreme Court had also ordered a socio-economic caste census and then discussed sub-classification based on it, the situation might have been better.
As it stands, many posts reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes remain vacant across the country, particularly in higher-level jobs. According to statistics, there are 4.42 crores Scheduled Caste families in the country, of which 3.95 % families have jobs. Of these, 0.93% families are in government jobs and 2.47% families are employed in the private sector. A staggering 83% of Dalit families subsist on an income of less than ₹5,000 per month, 11.74% earn between ₹5,000 and ₹10,000, 4.67% earn more than ₹10,000, and only 3.5% families survive on an income above ₹50,000. Among Dalit families, 42% are landless, and among Adivasis, 35.3% are landless. About 94% of Dalits and 92% of Adivasis rely on manual labour or migrate to other states for their livelihood. Dalit families hold 18.5% unirrigated land, 17.41% irrigated land and 6.98% other types of land. Among Dalits, 23% live in good houses, 2% in habitable houses, 12% in dilapidated houses, and 24% in huts made of grass, plastic, or mud.
Looking at the budget allocated for Scheduled Castes and Tribes, the central budget for 2024-25 is ₹48,20,512 crores, out of which ₹1,65,493 crores (3.43%) is allocated for Scheduled Castes and ₹1,32,214 crores (2.74%) is for the development of Scheduled Tribes. Even in the schemes implemented in the name of the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Tribes, the government is mainly serving corporate interests. Plans for the welfare of SCs and STs include telecommunications, semiconductors, large-scale industries, transport industries, fertilizer imports, chemical production, etc. For instance, in the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25, the Modi government did not allocate any budget for the self-employment and rehabilitation of sanitation workers. For 2024-25, only ₹1 lakh, an extremely meager amount, has been allocated to the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation, responsible for providing loans and financial assistance to sanitation workers in India. For the welfare of these most vulnerable communities, the budget for 2022-23 was ₹70 crores, of which only ₹11 crores were spent, and approximately ₹58.5 crores lapsed. Huge budgets, like ₹236.99 crores for the National Mechanized Sanitation Program, are aimed at benefiting only corporations. Additionally, ₹2,140 crores from the SC-ST Welfare Fund has been allocated for building and enhancing telecommunications infrastructure and compensating service providers. ₹1,035 crores from SC-ST funds have been allocated for semiconductor and display manufacturing. Subsidies for the import and domestic production of urea and other phosphorous-potassium fertilizers amounting to ₹22,052.5 crores have been given to importers and manufacturers, which have no direct relation to SC-ST development.
The situation of Adivasis is even worse. Adivasis constitute 8.6% of the country’s population, with a population of around 100 million. About 52% of them live below the poverty line. Additionally, 54% of the population lacks communication and transport facilities. Among Adivasis, 42.02% are workers, of which 54.50% are farmers, and 32.60% are farm laborers, meaning about 87% of the population works in the primary sector. The literacy rate among Adivasis is 58.96%, with 68.53% literacy among men and 49.35% among women. When classified, 35.8% are literate, 26.4% have studied up to class 5, 18.3% up to class 8, 11.1% up to class 10, 5.7% up to class 12, 0.6% have completed a diploma or certificate course, and 2.2% have graduated. According to a report by Social Education, approximately 70.6% of Adivasi boys and 71.3% of Adivasi girls drop out of school after class 10.
The issue of 69,000 teacher recruitment in Uttar Pradesh has also been a topic of much discussion. The Allahabad High Court recently quashed the entire recruitment process on August 13 due to the Yogi government’s non-compliance with reservation rules and ordered the government to prepare a new list. Of the 1,380 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes in this recruitment, 1,133 seats remained vacant. This was also mentioned in the High Court’s decision. According to media reports, these vacant posts were filled by candidates from the Scheduled Castes. In Uttar Pradesh, around 17 lakh people (approximately 0.6%) belong to the Scheduled Tribes. This includes communities like Gonds, Kharwars, Cheros, Baigas, Panikas, Bhuiyas, Agariyas, Tharus, Bhoksa, Bhotiya, Sahariya, etc., who are recognized as Scheduled Tribes in certain districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Most of the Scheduled Tribe population in the state resides in Sonbhadra district. The situation there is dire, with insufficient government degree and intermediate colleges for tribal children. There are only three government degree colleges in the entire district, one of which is a women’s degree college. As a result, despite their desire to contribute to society and secure government jobs, tribal children’s dreams are shattered due to a lack of education. Girls associated with Yuva Manch have demanded free higher education for tribal girls by establishing a government degree college in the tribal-majority Duddhi Tehsil, from the tribal President to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. However, the government remains unresponsive. The situation is so bad that even the government degree college in Pokhara, Babhani Block, is not being operationalized. Primary and secondary education in this area is also in a poor state, with most schools run by Shiksha Mitras, which is a blatant violation of the Right to Education Act of 2009. Therefore, the first need is for the government to guarantee free and quality education from primary to degree level for tribal children so they can become eligible for government jobs.
Additionally, the livelihoods of people in the tribal-majority Duddhi region of Sonbhadra are in crisis. Farming with oxen is unproductive, making it very difficult for families to sustain their livelihoods. This livelihood crisis is a major obstacle for people in providing education for their children. Massive migration is occurring due to the lack of livelihood opportunities, with even young girls migrating. Not only are workers migrating, but capital is also leaving the area. According to government data from 2021, against ₹9,623 crores deposited by the people in banks, only ₹3,034 crores in loans were disbursed to the people, meaning 69% of the capital has left the area. In such a situation, women’s self-help groups and youth should be provided with interest-free loans to encourage self-employment so they can become economically prosperous and adequately invest in their children’s education. It is surprising that the forces of social justice, who have also run governments in the state, have done nothing to address the backwardness of the Adivasis.
Therefore, it is the need of the hour to empower Dalits and Adivasis. The budget for SC-ST sub-plans should be increased, the provision of “not found suitable” in government jobs should be abolished, and their posts should not be filled by other classes under any circumstances. Reservations should be provided in media, judiciary, and the private sector, and vacant government posts should be filled immediately. It is hoped that the forces of social justice will pay attention to these crucial issues concerning Dalits and Adivasis.
Dinkar Kapoor, State General Secretary, All India People’s Front, Uttar Pradesh
