In the state of Andhra Pradesh(unified), people belonging to 59 castes were incorporated in the list of Scheduled Castes. In this, Malas and Madigas are the main castes. Except a total of 8 castes, remaining all are sub castes either to Malas or Madigas. Out of the 59 Scheduled castes, Mala, Madiga, Adi Dravida and Adi Andhra together constitute 93.6 percent of the SC population of the state. Madiga are numerically the largest SCs with a population of 60, 74, 250 constituting 49.2 percent of the State SC population. They are followed by Mala having a population of 51, 39, 305(41.6 per cent). 82.5 per cent of SCs are living in rural areas of the State. Among the numerically major SCs, Madigas have a rural population of 85.1 per cent, followed by Mala (81.9 per cent). The work participation rate (WPR-the percentage workers to the total population) is the highest at 52.2 per cent among Madigas. The occupational pattern of Madiga women is agriculture, livestock rearing, hiring out labour, caste professions and MGNREGA.
Madiga, Madiga women, Occupational pattern, labor, employment, agriculture
