Transformation of scheduled castes in India

This paper makes an attempt to trace the development in the position of scheduled castes in Indian society from the past times till present. The institutionalization of caste hierarchy and the functionalism attached to it are obdurately followed in the modern Indian society, rather society in transition. The stark difference between the rural and urban India gives a regional character to treatment of Scheduled Castes. However, on a broad basis, the phenomenon of untouchability has been eliminated from Indian society; traumatizing incidents of caste discrimination do emerge in present times. The tenacity of caste system exists in India because of its inherency in the political, economic and social welfare system of India. Therefore, it becomes necessary to trace the changes in the status of the scheduled castes in terms of occupational mobility, education and social norms. Urbanization has facilitated the community of scheduled caste to derive benefit of education system, breaking free from the social stigma and move upwards in the ladder of economic development. Nevertheless, it noteworthy that still, considerable percentages of scheduled castes are engaged in menial and elementary jobs and are homeless. The upcoming and majority of middle class society in India, has given up traditional discriminative values based on caste system, however the rule of endogamy plays a major role in keeping the caste system continued. Here, with the help of seminal work of various social scientists, an effort has been made to analyze the changes in the status of scheduled castes and outlook of society towards them.