Constitutional safeguards for the welfare of dalits in India

The Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs) of India have remained socially, economically, educationally and politically backward since the beginning of the stratification of castes in the Indian society. The need for providing adequate constitutional safeguards for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was recognized by the framers of the Indian Constitution. Special provisions were made in the Constitution to promote social, educational, economic, political and service interests of these weaker sections of the society. Consequently in the changed scenario, serious efforts are to be made to improve their socio-economic conditions. In this paper an attempt has been made to improve the condition of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Due to this spirit apart from various constitutional safeguards, a number of voluntary organizations started providing various facilities to the weaker sections of the society for their proper upliftment. A number of suggestions have been put for better and wider implications of the reservation package to the disadvantaged people of India.