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Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Tribes (STs)

in Andhra Pradesh: A Situation
Assessment Analysis
Motkuri, Venkatanarayana
S. R. Sankaran Chair (Rural Labour), National Institute of Rural

Development, Hyderabad
January 2013
Online at https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/48186/
MPRA Paper No. 48186, posted 10 Jul 2013 07:48 UTC
Revised Draft: January, 2013
Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Tribes (STs) in Andhra

Pradesh: A Situation Assessment Analysis
Motkuri Venkatanarayana
Research Officer
S. R. Sankaran Chair (Rural Labour)
National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD)
Rajendranagar, Hyderabad.
[email protected]
Key Words: Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Marginalised, Andhra Pradesh,

Employment, Poverty, Welfare.
JEL Classification: I310, I320.
Abstract
The paper presents the development status of SC and ST in Andhra Pradesh, their problems and
prospects from the inclusive growth and human development perspectives. It presents the prevailing
situation in respect of SC/ST and their level of backwardness with respect to parameters such as
income, land ownership, health indicators, educational attainments, access to basic infrastructure and
basic amenities in the state. The analysis indicates that although there has been progress on many
development indicators across these SC and ST communities in the state, they still lagged behind the
‘other’ social groups. Although the gaps between social groups are getting narrower in literacy and
child schooling, gaps remained same with respect to educational levels among the adults. Health
conditions among these communities have improved at a very slow pace. The situation is alarming
with respect to economic well-being as the poverty level especially among the STs. Slow progress in
expected change in structure of employment towards non-agriculture in general and stagnation among
STs for a long time is a cause of concern. Moreover, landlessness had increased among these
communities especially STs. Even among the SC, total number of operational holdings and area under
these holdings is observed to be marginally declined in the recent past. These facts are cause for
policy concern in the state. The policy initiative of special assistance through SCP/TSP in terms of
budget allocations for the welfare and development of these (SC/ST) communities has not been
fulfilled in implementation. Nevertheless the recent initiative of Government of Andhra Pradesh in
this respect is promising. Given the actual situation of these communities with respect to their
development status, more focused intervention is needed to enhance the pace of development among
these communities. The impact of development of these communities (SC/ST), together comprised
one-fifth of the total population, in the state on its aggregate level of development would be
considerable. Apart, the backwardness of these communities indicates a violation of norms like
equity, equality and social justice that ought to be followed in the development process in a welfare
state, and of the rights of these communities to development equally on par with other communities.
***
Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 0

Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Tribes (STs) in Andhra

Pradesh: A Situation Assessment Analysis#
Motkuri Venkatanarayana∗
I Introduction
Development of marginalized sections has long been the policy concern. The Scheduled
Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) are social groups explicitly recognized by the
Constitution of India. They are legal categories roughly coinciding with those who are
dalits/untouchables and adivasis and are considered to be marginisalised in the development
process. During colonial period, the British referred to them as the "depressed classes" and,
initiated a few policies recognizing their socio-economic backwardness. The issue of
reservation of seats for the "depressed" classes in provincial and central legislatures was
debated during British rule. The National Planning Committee (NPC) of 1937 made detailed
recommendations on a whole range of social and economic issues. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar also
had a vision for socially and economically disadvantaged sections (APHDR, 2008).
Subsequently, since Independence, a positive discrimination policy involving several welfare
programmes, progressive legislations and constitutional safeguards in India in favour of SC
and ST communities.
However, these visions have not been realized even after sixty years. Though there has been a
progress in the development of these communities when compared to their past, they are not
yet on an equal footing with the mainstream society on any development indicator. Moreover,
these social groups have been subjected to social exclusion and discrimination. Because of
the development/deprivation divides across social groups, the Eleventh Plan proposed that
there should be inclusive growth. One important dimension of the notion of inclusive growth
is that the benefits of growth should reach socially disadvantaged sections (APHDR, 2008).
Inclusive growth concept is broader than the pro-poor growth which indicates an income
dimension of the growth in favour of the poor. In fact, the pro-poor growth debate revolved
around the relative approach of higher growth of income for poor than that of non-poor
(Kakawani, 2000; Kakawani and Pernia, 2000; Zheng, 2011), absolute approach of any rise
in income that reduces the poverty level (Ravallion, 2001, 2004; Ravallion and Chen, 2001;
Zheng, 2011), and moved to rate of decline over the past benchmark (Osmani, 2005, Zheng,
2011). The inclusive growth is broad based growth intended to benefiting all sectors and all
sections of people (World Bank, 2010). It brought in not only the outcome but also the
process. Besides, it is argued that inclusive growth is a process that enables non-
discriminatory participation and disadvantage reducing (Klasen, 2010; Thorat, 2012).
It is observed that although these marginalized sections benefited from the growth that
witnessed over time, its impact might not be substantial enough to break the shackles of their
backwardness. It is because of the social exclusion that these marginalized groups in India
#
Based on the earlier version of a background paper prepared for the Second Human Development Report of
Andhra Pradesh.
∗
Junior Research Officer (JRO) S. R. Sankaran Chair (Rural Labour), National Institute of Rural
Development (NIRD), Hyderabad. [email protected].
were rooted in historical division of society along lines of caste, tribe and gender. Therefore,
these inequalities were structural in nature and as these groups were trapped in this structure,
they were unable to take advantage of the opportunities offered by economic growth (World
Bank, 2011). Therefore, the effort of policy regime with an objective of inclusive growth
should be to break these shackles of the disadvantaged social groups.
The paper presents the status of SC and ST in Andhra Pradesh, their problems and prospects
from the inclusive growth and human development perspective. It presents the prevailing
situation in respect of SC/ST and their level of backwardness with respect to parameters such
as income, land ownership, health indicators, educational attainments, access to basic
infrastructure and basic amenities like water supply, sanitation, electricity etc, in the state.
The SCs/STs social groups together comprised over one-fourth of India's population (SCs
around 16% and ST 8%) according to the 2001 Census of India. Andhra Pradesh was the fifth
largest state in terms of total (all social groups) population in India. A similar development /
deprivation divide exists in the state across social groups as in all-India context. The SC/STs
accounted for about one-fourth of the population in the state. Andhra Pradesh accounts 8% of
the total SC/ST population in country (2001 Census). The state’s impressive performance in
terms of economic growth in the recent past, has not been observed in many aspects social
and human development. Although there has been a considerable progress among SC/STs in
the state, these disadvantaged sections still lagging behind the ‘other’ community and
inequalities across social groups persisted. The development of these social groups while
bridging the social gap will enhance the relative achievement of the state in the all-India
context. Therefore, it is important to assess the development or deprivation of these (SC/STs)
social groups in the context of emerging policy concern for inclusive growth.
II Size and Growth of Population

Andhra Pradesh has a sizeable Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes population (ST).
The S C population in 1961 was 4.9 million constituting 13.8% of the total population in the
state. The S T population was 1.3 million, accounted for 3.7% of the state population. The
latest census (2011) indicates a three-fold increase in the number of SCs and four-fold
increase of STs in the state during last five decades period i.e. between 1961 and 2011 (Table
2.1). In 2011, population of SC and ST is about 13.9 and 5 million comprising 16.4% and
5.6% respectively of the total population in the state. Andhra Pradesh accounts for about
6.9% of total population of SCs, and 6.0% of the total STs in India. As compared to all-India,
the percentage of SCs in the total population was marginally lower while ST population was
nearly 2 percentage points lower in the state. The share of the state with respect to the
population of the country India had declined. Although proportion of the SC/ST population
has increased over time in the state as well as all-India, rate of increase in the state seems to
be relatively lower than all-India average.
It also needs to be mentioned that the SC and ST communities in Andhra Pradesh as well as
in the country are not homogeneous groups, there are a number of sub-castes/groups within
each groups. Particularly in Andhra Pradesh, there are about 59 sub-castes in SCs. The
important ones are mala, madiga, relli, adi andhra and others. Within the mala and madiga
there are about 25 and 18 sub-caste groups respectively. Similarly, there are about 33 sub-
tribes among STs in the state. Important ones among them are Gonds, Koyas, Konda Reddies,
Savaras and others. As a matter of fact, a sharp rise in the size of ST population in the state

particularly during the 1970s was due to the inclusion of a community called Lambada /
Sugali, which mostly lives in the plains, into ST category in 1977. When lambadas were
notified as STs in Andhra Pradesh, many lambadas from the neighbouring states of
Maharashtra and Karnataka migrated to Andhra Pradesh to claim ST status. The lambadas
are, in fact, the single largest tribal group and constitute about 40 per cent of the ST
population in state (Venkatanarayana, 2006).
Table 2.1: The Size of the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) Population
in Andhra Pradesh and in India
Andhra Pradesh All India
% of AP in India
Year Population (in M) % in T P Population (in M) % in T P
SC ST All SC ST SC ST All SC ST SC ST All
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
1961 4.9 1.3 35.9 13.8 3.7 64.4 29.9 439.2 14.7 6.9 7.7 4.4 8.2
1971 5.8 1.6 43.5 13.3 3.8 80.0 38.0 548.2 14.6 6.9 7.2 4.4 7.9
1981 7.9 3.1 53.5 14.9 5.9 104.8 51.6 683.3 15.8 7.8 7.6 6.2 7.8
1991 10.6 4.2 66.5 15.9 6.3 138.2 67.8 846.0 16.5 8.1 7.7 6.2 7.9
2001 12.3 5.0 76.2 16.2 6.6 166.6 84.3 1028.6 16.2 8.2 7.4 6.0 7.4
2011 13.9 5.9 84.5 16.4 7.0 201.4 104.3 1210.2 16.6 8.6 6.9 5.7 7.0
Note: 1. TP – Total Population; SC – Scheduled Castes; ST – Scheduled Tribes.
Source: Census of India.
Across districts while the SCs are wide spread throughout the state, the STs are concentrated
in the hilly and forest areas of Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari,
West Godavari, Khammam, Warangal and Adilabad districts. According to the 2001 Census
the percentage of SC in the total population was highest in Nellore (22.5%) followed by
Prakasam (21% cent) and Chittoor (18.7%) districts in the state. Kadapa is the district with
the lowest percentage of ST, (2.4%) and Khammam (26.5%) has the highest in the state. Of
the total ST population in the state, the major proportion (nearly 55%) is located in
Telangana. In some districts, the ST and SCs together account for more than one-third of the
total population. The share of SC/ST together was highest (43%) in Khammam followed by
Adilabad (35.3%), Nellore and Warangal (each 31.1%). The share of SC/ST was lowest in
Hyderabad (8.9%) followed by Srikakulam (15.0%), Anantapur (17.6%) and Kadapa
(18.1%).
In terms of growth of population in Andhra Pradesh, while the total population of the state
was growing at 2% per annum between 1961 and 2001, the ST and SC population of the state
had grown at 3.9% and 2.5% respectively. More specifically, between 1991 and 2001, the
total population of state grew at 1.4% per annum whereas the ST and SC population grew at
1.8% and 1.5% respectively. It is interesting to notice that both the communities registered
relatively lower rate of growth during 1991-2001 than that of all India average for all
communities (1.9%). It is also noticed that state had registered a decelerated rate growth of
population across social groups especially during last three decades of 20th century (Figure
2.1). However, it is evident that the rate of growth of population was highest among the STs
followed by SCs. The rate of growth in ST and SC population accounted for about 20% and
11% of the growth of total population in the state. The contribution to population growth is
higher than their share in the state population. As a result their share in the total population is
increasing.

Figure 2.1: Growth of Population across Social Groups in Andhra Pradesh and India
1961-71 1971-81 1981-91 1991-01 1961-01
6.8
8.0
6.0
3.4
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.0
2.8
2.8
2.7
4.0
2.6
2.4
2.4
2.3
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.1
2.1
2.0
1.9
1.9
1.9
1.8
1.7
1.5
1.4
2.0
0.0
SC ST All SC ST All
AP India
Note: 1. Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) in percent.

Source: Computed using Census figures.
In many districts the population growth rate of STs and SCs was higher than the district
average (all communities). In a few districts, however, this pattern did not happen, and the
growth rates of population were below the all community average in districts like Warangal,
Mahabubnagar, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and East Godavari for SCs; Adilabad, Karimnagar
and Anantapur districts for ST; and Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts for both SCs and
STs (Figure 2.2).
Figure 2.2: Population Growth rate (%) by Social Groups across Districts, 1991-2001
a) All Population b) SC Population c) ST Population
A.P 1.39 A.P 1.54 A.P 1.84
Nalgonda 1.33 Nalgonda 1.34 Nalgonda 2.22
Khamam 1.53 Khamam 1.71 Khamam 2.02
Warangal 1.44 Warangal 1.30 Warangal 1.75
Karimnagar 1.43 Karimnagar 1.43 Karimnagar 0.92
Adilabad 1.81 Adilabad 1.80 Adilabad 1.63
Nizambad 1.43 Nizambad 1.23 Nizambad 3.24
Medak 1.68 Medak 1.47 Medak 3.57
Hyderabad 2.16 Hyderabad 0.98 Hyderabad 1.97
Rangareddy 3.49 Rangareddy 1.70 Rangareddy 2.98
Mahbubnagar 1.35 Mahbubnagar 1.03 Mahbubnagar 2.06
Kurnool 1.75 Kurnool 1.95 Kurnool 2.13
Anatapur 1.36 Anatapur 1.32 Anatapur 1.37
Kadapa 1.40 Kadapa 1.94 Kadapa 2.63
Chittoor 1.41 Chittoor 1.60 Chittoor 2.02
Nellore 1.11 Nellore 1.17 Nellore 1.25
Prakasam 1.06 Prakasam 1.66 Prakasam 1.84
Guntur 0.85 Guntur 3.62 Guntur 1.39
Krishna 1.26 Krishna 1.99 Krishna 1.62
West Godavari 0.78 West Godavari 1.48 West Godavari 1.32
East Godavari 0.76 East Godavari 0.65 East Godavari 0.84
Vishakapatnam 1.58 Vishakapatnam 2.83 Vishakapatnam 1.77
Vizianagarm 0.67 Vizianagarm -0.76 Vizianagarm 1.26
Srikakulam 0.92 Srikakulam 0.57 Srikakulam 1.23
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
-1.50
0.00
1.50
3.00
4.50
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
Note: CAGR – Compound Annual Growth Rate per annum presented in percentage form.
Source: Computed based on Census of India data.
In a few districts like Visakhapatnam, West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur the growth of SC
population was higher than that of the STs. The growth of population among the SCs was
positive in all the districts except Vizianagaram (-0.76%). The highest growth rate of
population for SC was in Guntur (3.62%) followed by Visakhapatnam (2.83%) and Krishna
(1.99%). The growth of ST population was highest in Medak (3.57%) followed by
Karimnagar (3.24%), Rangareddy (2.98%) and Kadapa (2.63%). The growth rate of ST
population was higher in many Telangana districts when compared to the state average.
The urbanization aspect of these communities indicate that about 27.3% of the total
population in Andhra Pradesh was located in urban areas in 2001 whereas the degree of
urbanization for SC/ST communities is very low: 7.5% for STs and 17.2% for SCs. Across
districts, a similar pattern was seen with a few exceptions; urbanization was higher all
community average in Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts for SCs and in Prakasam
for STs. Between these two communities urbanization was higher for STs higher than that of
the SCs particularly in Krishna, Nellore, Chittoor and Kadapa districts. It was vice-versa in
other districts. The highest degree of urbanization for SCs was observed in Hyderabad
district, followed by Visakhapatnam, Rangareddy, Adilabad, Vizianagaram and Kurnool
districts. The lowest urbanized SCs was observed in Mahabubnagar district followed by
Medak, Prakasam and Nalgonda. Similarly, the most urbanized district for STs was also
Hyderabad, followed by Guntur, Krishna, Kurnool and Prakasam districts. The least
urbanized district for STs was Srikakulam followed by Mahabubnagar, Nizamabad and
Vizianagaram. It is also noticed that the degree of urbanization among STs was below 5% in
eight districts.
To sum up, one can say that the growth of population over a period is declining across social
groups but the rate of growth of population among STs followed by SCs is relatively higher
than that of the other social group population. As a result the share of these social groups in
the total population of the state has shown a marginal increase over a period. Although the
SC population is relatively wide spread all over the state, ST population is concentrated in a
few pockets/districts. Given such a large size of population (around one-fourth of total),
unless development potential of these population groups are unleashed overall development
of the state may not be realized. Heavy concentration these social groups in rural areas
especially ST community in remote area indicate that for their progress it necessitate
connectivity through development of transport and communication facilities and provision of
basic needs or services. Following analysis is dealt with these aspects.
III Human Capital base: Education

Education is generally accepted as a universal right and not a privilege meant for some
classes of society1. The Indian Constitution and many later policy resolutions have stressed
universal access to education and enrolment of children of school-going age irrespective of
class and caste. Nevertheless, there is no equal access to education across social groups. In
Andhra Pradesh as well as in India, the SC and ST are the most backward in terms of
education.
3.1 Literacy
Literacy level is a basic component of educational development in any society. However,
Andhra Pradesh in general is lagging behind many other Indian states in this respect. There
has been a progress in the literacy rate of Andhra Pradesh wherein it increased from 21.2% in
1961 to 66.67% in 2011. The remarkable progress literacy observed in the state during 1990s
(between 1991 and 2001) was the second highest among Indian states. But such a remarkable
1
S. Radhakrishnan, University Education Commission Report (Quoted from Karlekar, 1989).
progress has not recurred in the recent decade. Hence, with respect to literacy rate Andhra
Pradesh still stands with the league of economically backward states in India.
Across social groups, there was a similar progress in literacy rate especially SC and ST
communities in the state. For SCs it increased from 8.5% to 31.6% between 1961 and 1991
and to 53.5% during 1991-2001. For STs the literacy rate was merely 4.4% in 1961; it
increased to 17.2% in 1991 and to 37.1% in 2001. But there huge differences in literacy rate
between social groups. Till 1991 the literacy rate of STs was less than one-third of the all-
community average in the state. The gap between the literacy levels of SC/ST and the state
average increased till 1991 and subsequently it narrowed down to some extent. The rate of
achievement in terms of literacy levels was higher for the STs and SCs when compared to the
state average during 1991-01. However about half the SCs and two-thirds of the STs in the
state still continued to be remained as illiterates.
Table 3.1: Literacy Levels by Caste and Gender in Andhra Pradesh

SC ST All
Year Person Male Female Person Male Female Person Male Female
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1961 8.5 13.4 3.4 4.4 7.3 1.5 21.2 30.2 12.0
1971 10.7 15.9 5.3 5.3 8.5 2.1 24.6 33.2 15.8
1981 17.7 24.8 10.3 7.8 12.0 3.5 29.9 39.3 20.4
1991 31.6 34.4 20.9 17.2 20.1 8.7 44.1 55.1 32.7
2001 53.5 63.5 43.4 37.1 47.7 26.1 60.5 70.3 50.4
Notes: 1. Figures are in percentage; 2. Literacy is for 5 + population for the years 1961 and 1971 thereafter
it has been for 7+ age population; 3. Upto 2001 it is Census data, for 2009-10 it is based on NSS estimations.
Source: 1. GoAP (2007); Census of India, Andhra Pradesh.
The recent experiences of these social groups’ performance in literacy during the last decade,
as Census based information is not yet available, NSSO Survey based information is used.
The NSS based analysis indicates that the gaps in literacy rates across social groups continue
to persist (Figure 3.1a). Still around half of the ST and SC population in the state survives
with illiteracy.
Figure 3.1: Literacy Rate (%) by Social Groups in Andhra Pradesh and India
a) Andhra Pradesh b) All India
2004-05 2009-10 2004-05 2009-10
82.7
79.0
77.3
100.0 100.0
73.4
72.3
70.9
67.3
65.4
65.7
65.6
63.8
63.4
58.3
58.2
56.7
55.0
53.1
51.1
50.0
44.5
50.0 50.0
0.0 0.0
All ST SC OBC Others All ST SC OBC Others
Note: Literacy rate for 7 + age population.

Source: NSSO 61st (2004-05) and 66th (2009-10) Rounds Employment and Unemployment Survey unit record data.
Among adults (15+age group) the literacy rate is very low among STs and SCs, it is less than
50%. Moreover social group-wise difference indicates that adult literacy rate of STs is less
than half of that of the ‘other’ community (see Table 3.2 below). Such is the intensity of
group inequality.

If one compares the performance of these ST/SC social groups in Andhra Pradesh with that
of their counterparts at the national level in terms of literacy rate (7+ age), state is lagging
behind that of national averages (Figure 3.1a&b).
The growth of literate persons (7+ age) in each social group during 1991-2001 was very
much higher than the growth of population of the respective social group. Moreover, the
growth of literate persons was the highest of among the STs (10.4% per annum) followed by
the SC (7.55% per annum) when compared to the all community (5% per annum) average in
the state (GoAP, 2007).
Further a disaggregated analysis by gender and caste shows that ST women were the most
backward and their literacy rate was one-fourth of the state average. This suggests that ST
female adults could not avail of the desired benefit from literacy campaigns and/or from
formal schooling facilities as compared to SC female adults in rural Andhra Pradesh. SC
male adults, however, could benefit from these initiatives to improve their literacy position
between 1991 and 2001 (Reddy et al. 2008).
Within the state there are huge variations across districts in terms of the performance of these
social groups. The pattern of inter-district variations in literacy rate among SCs was very
similar to the regional pattern seen in the all community average literacy rate (Table 3.2).
Across districts, the literacy rate was relatively the lowest among the STs by community and
ST female by community and gender. West Godavari district next to Hyderabad was the
district with highest literacy rate and Mahabubnagar was the district with the least literacy
rate in all six literacy rate parameters.
3.2 Levels of Education

Improving their human capital base through education among these backward communities
could be one of mechanism that helps in breaking the fetter of their backwardness. However,
low levels of education among the socially backward communities also perpetuating their
historical backwardness. It is very clear from the fact that the percentage of adult population
who completed primary and above levels of education is less than one-fourth of its population
among STs (Table 3.2).
Table 3.2: Percentage of Adult Population (15+ age) across Social Groups in
Andhra Pradesh by level of Education
Below Primary & Middle & Secondary & Post-
Social Group Literates Primary above above above secondary
ST 30.0 2.2 22.8 17.3 12.9 3.1
SC 42.4 1.4 34.5 25.9 15.4 2.8
2004-05 OBC 46.7 1.7 37.5 27.7 17.1 3.5
Others 66.4 1.8 56.9 43.6 30.6 8.4
All 50.8 1.7 41.9 31.5 20.6 4.8
ST 41.0 0.1 31.9 25.3 17.5 9.0
SC 48.1 0.4 40.5 31.8 21.1 10.2
2009-10 OBC 57.1 0.6 47.0 36.6 24.5 12.7
Others 74.0 0.4 66.8 56.2 42.8 25.4
All 59.3 0.5 50.6 40.7 28.7 15.6
Source: NSSO 61st (2004-05) and 66th (2009-10) Rounds Employment and Unemployment Survey unit record data.

When compared across social groups the achievement of STs is less than the half of that
achieved by the ‘other’ community. Similarly is the case for SCs, although it is relatively
better than that of STs. The same pattern can be observed at any level of education.
Moreover, if one looks into the rate of improvement between 2004-05 and 2009-10, it is
observed across social groups. But rate of improvement among SC/ST is not so different
(higher) than that of the ‘other’ community. One would expect that the higher rate of
improvement among these (SC/ST) communities facilitates the catch up with the ‘other’
community. In the absence of it, the group inequalities in this respect will continue.
3.3 Educational Deprivation and Child Schooling

Education is the basic right of every child, which implies that every child must be in school
and that no child should work. But many children could not realise this basic right and were
deprived of basic education. There are disparities associated with sub-population groups
defined by spatial and socio-economic characteristics where children living in rural settings,
who are female and who belong to socially backward groups (SC and ST) were the most
deprived sections of society (Venkatanarayana, 2005). As in the case of literacy, there were
also significant disparities across social groups in respect of children at school in the state.
The percentage of children in the 5-14 age group attending school was relatively lower
among the SC/ST than the ‘other’ communities. Many children belonging to these
marginalized communities especially ST, were out of school and some were even engaged in
economic activities. In fact, incidence of child labour was the highest among ST children.
The incidence of educational deprivation (i.e. percentage of children who remained out of
school) was higher among children belonging ST and SC when compared to ‘others’.
Between the SC and ST, the ST children were more deprived. This is corroborated even by
enrolment figures provided by the Education Department (usually suspected of being
inflated) and poor enrolment and high drop-out rates were highest among ST children
followed by SC and ‘others’. According to the Census 2001, about 23.1% of SC and 35.9%
of ST children in the age group 5-14 years were not attending school in the state (Table A3).
It means that they were deprived of basic right to education.
When examined the experiences of these social groups with respect their performance in
child schooling - attendance rate, the other positive dimension of the educational deprivation
- the recent estimate2 based on NSS, indicates that the performance of the state is relatively
better among the major Indian states. It is not only in terms of the state average of all social
groups but also across social groups. Estimates shows that current attendance rate among
children (5-14 years age group) during 2009-10 was 82.0%, 94.4%, 95.4% and 95.7%
respectively among ST, SC, OBC and Other communities in the state (Figure 3.2a). Between
2004-05 and 2009-10 all social groups have shown an improvement in the school attendance
rate. But ST community has not shown any progress during the period. Moreover, the
attendance rate (5-14 age group) in Andhra Pradesh is higher than the national average across
social groups except STs (Figure 3.2a&b). The national average for STs is carried away by
the exceptional performance of tribal communities in North-Eastern states.
2
It is estimated using NSS Employment and Unemployment Survey 61st (2004-05) Round unit level record
data. It is based on usual activity (both principal and subsidiary) status of employment.
Figure 3.2: Current Attendance Rate of Children (5-14 age group), 2009-10
a) Andhra Pradesh b) All India
2004-05 2009-10 2004-05 2009-10
91.9
95.7
95.4
94.5
94.4
88.8
88.8
87.8
86.6
91.0
84.8
87.2
87.0
86.5
82.0
80.3
120.0
78.3
82.2
82.0
73.8
100.0 100.0
80.0 80.0
60.0 60.0
40.0 40.0
20.0 20.0
0.0 0.0
ST SC OBC Others All ST SC OBC Others All
Note: Rural-urban and male-female combined.
Source: NSS 61st (2004-05) and 66th (2009-10) Round EUS unit record data.
Again there is another duality observed between backward communities and the rest in terms
attendance in public and private schools. More than half of the school going children
belonging to the ‘other’ community, are attending in private schools, whereas such
occurrence is less than 15% for the school going ST children. Between 2004-05 and 2009-10
there is a remarkable increase in case of SC children attending private schools. Nevertheless
more three-fourths of SC children are still attending public schools. But ST children
registered a decline in percentage attending private schools.
Figure 3.3: Distribution (%) of Children (5-14 age group) Attending Schools between
Public and Private Schools by Social Group - Andhra Pradesh
2004-05 2009-01
87.5
85.8
85.9
75.5
100.0
73.5
71.1
67.6
64.8
54.7
80.0
52.2
47.8
45.3
Percent
35.2
60.0
32.4
28.9
26.5
24.5
14.2
40.0
14.1
12.5
20.0
0.0
Public Private Public Private Public Private Public Private Public Private
ST SC OBC Others All
Social Groups
Note: Rural-urban and male-female combined.

Source: NSS Employment and Unemployment Survey unit record data.
If one takes into account the perceived low quality of education in public schools and the
better education in private school, the social division of attendance pattern appears to follow
the historical and perpetuates the same. It is also observed that the perceived low quality of
education public schools and the unaffordability of private education in terms of its cost
could ultimately lead to the event of dropout (Venkatanarayana, 2004). Herein one is not
arguing for privatization of schooling across social groups rather it is reasonable to argue for
quality of education in public schools that is compatible with that of private schools.
District level analysis based on 2001 Census data indicates that Inter-district variations in
attendance were much higher for girls than for boys both in the ST and SC communities. The
low attendance districts for STs were Mahabubnagar, Medak, Guntur and Rangareddy. The
gender disparity in attendance was also higher in these districts except for Guntur. For SC

and Others, the low attendance districts were Mahabubnagar and Kurnool, where the gender
disparity in attendance was also higher (Reddy et al. 2008).
Rural-urban differentials in school attendance were higher for ST children as compared to

other social categories. Further, the attendance of ST girls was pathetically low in the rural
areas of Mahabubnagar, Medak, Nizamabad, Rangareddi, Guntur and Nalgonda. For ST
children, the low attendance (less than 20) districts were Nellore, Mahabubnagar and
Prakasam. Inter-district variations in attendance were much higher for ST (also SC and
Others) girls than for boys in rural areas. We do not find any such difference in urban areas.
For children of SC and Others communities, the low attendance districts in the rural areas
were Mahabubnagar and Kurnool (Reddy et al. 2008).
While looking into determinant factors of school enrolment in the supply-demand framework,
it is the lack of demand along with socio-economic conditions of the household on the
demand side, and inadequate access and inefficient service delivery on the supply side that
led to persistence of educational deprivation of children. Most of these communities,
especially STs, live in isolated settlements and they are relatively at a disadvantage in every
respect and access to facilities like schooling, in their settlements are well below the overall
development of the state (Venkatanarayana, 2006).
On the whole one can say that although ST and SC social groups are improving their literacy
levels over time, they continued to be lagging behind the other social groups. These groups
are not able to outperform the ‘other’ social groups in order to catch up and hence the huge
gap between these social groups continued to persist. Moreover the pattern of child schooling
indicate the differentiation between social groups in rate improvement and quality of
education associated with private and public schools. Most of school going children
belonging to SC/ST communities are studying in public schools. The perceived low quality of
education associated with inadequate infrastructure and human and financial resource in
public schools have implications in their adult life; it may perpetuate the group inequality.
IV Health
The most important indicators that measure the health status are mortality, morbidity,
immunization of children and pregnant women and their nutrition levels. The estimates by
social groups for any of these indicators indicate that ST and the SC lag behind the other
community.
The total fertility rate (TFR) of women in the reproductive age group (15-49) was highest
among the STs followed by SC and OBC, and the lowest was among the ‘other’ community.
The fertility rate has declined in Andhra Pradesh over the years, and declined to its lowest
level during the 1990s (1.79) and reached below the replacement level in the recent past
(2005-06). The decline in fertility rate in the state seems to be associated with the increasing
rate of family planning. The percentage of ever-married women in the age group 15-49 who
had gone in for family planning increased from 59.6 to 67.6 per cent between 1998-99 and
2005-06. There was a decline in fertility rate and increase in family planning across all social
groups/communities but at a varying rate. The differences in fertility rate and family planning
were reflected in the differences in the growth of population across social groups.

Across social groups, mortality as measured by the crude death rate was marginally higher
among the SC and ST. Infant mortality rate (IMR), which is an important indicator of human
development, was highest among the ST (78) followed by SC (66) for the reference year
2005-06. On the other hand, it was lowest among the ‘other’ (36) and other backward
communities (53). The great difference in IMR between ST/SC and the others is an indicator
of inequalities in health and the difference in development across these communities (Table
4.1). The situation improved between 1998-99 and 2005-06 as the IMR declined across all
communities. Though the rate of decline was the highest among the relatively more
disadvantaged communities especially STs, there were still disparities across communities.
The nutritional status of women is critical for their own health as well as the health of
children. There are different indicators to measure the nutritional status of women. For
instance, the height of an adult woman also reflects the level of nutrition during childhood
and adolescence. And the height of a woman often indicates the level of risk of difficulty in
childbirth and delivering a baby with low birth weight. Current diet also influences nutritional
status. Women from scheduled tribes/castes have a relatively poor diet that is deficient in
fruits and green, leafy vegetables. Although there was no significant difference in terms of
the mean height of the women, the percentage of women below 145 cm was highest among
women belonging to scheduled castes. The body mass index (BMI), which is a measure of
weight to height, is used to assess thinness or obesity. A BMI less than 18.5 indicates chronic
energy deficiency in a woman. The mean BMI was lowest for SC/ST women and the
percentage of women whose BMI was below 18.5 was the highest among SC and ST.
Women across all communities had improved between 1998-99 and 2005-06 in terms of a
decline in energy deficiency, indicated by improved mean BMI and a decline in the
percentage of women below 18.5BMI (Table 4.1).
Anaemia is another indicator of nutritional status which usually results from a deficiency of
iron, vitamin B or other nutrients. Iron deficiency is the most widespread form of
malnutrition in the world and in India and in Andhra Pradesh it affects about 50 per cent of
the population. According to NFHS III (2005-06) while on an average about 62.9 per cent of
ever-married women in the age group 15-49 years had iron deficiency (were anaemic) in the
state, across social groups, anaemia was highest among ST women (67.9%) followed by the
SCs (64.9 per cent) and OBC (64%). The severe form of anaemia was highest among ST
women (6%) and SC women (4.2%) in the state. The percentage of women with anaemia
across all communities has increased between 1998-99 and 2005-06, indicating the worsening
situation of iron deficiency of women in the state.
The nutritional status of children, which is an important aspect of their health and well-being,
is expressed in standard deviation units (z-scores) from the median. Children who are under 3
years of age and below 2SD are considered to be undernourished and those below 3SD are
considered to be severely undernourished. While weight for age is a composite measure of
both chronic and acute under-nutrition, height for age measures linear growth retardation.
Across social groups in Andhra Pradesh, the percentage of children characterized as
undernourished (weight for age) in 2005-06 was higher among the ST community (51.6%)
followed by SC (30.8%) when compared with the ‘other’ children (21.8%). The severity of
under-nutrition (-3SD) was higher among SC children. An alarming situation is that the
percentage of undernourished children had increased between 1998-99 and 2005-06,
especially among the ST community. Moreover, Anaemia was also highest among ST
children (89.6%). The percentage of children with anemia increased across all communities
between 1998-99 and 2005-06, as had happened with women.
Chronic under-nutrition generally results from a failure to receive adequate nutrition over a
long period of time or from chronic or recurrent diarrhea. Moreover, under-nutrition among
children is strongly associated with their mothers’ nutritional status and is more common in
children whose mothers’ height is less than 145 cm and body mass index (BMI) is below
18.5. Ultimately it is strongly related to the living standards at the household level and
children of households with a low standard of living are more likely to be undernourished
than children of households with a high standard of living.
Table 4.1: Selected Health Parameters across Social Groups in Andhra Pradesh
NFHS II 1998-99 NFHSIII 2005-06
Indicators
ST SC OBC Others Total ST SC OBC Others Total
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
1 TFR 2.75 2.51 2.26 2.00 2.25 2.50 1.80 1.82 1.54 1.79
2 IMR 104 95 70 47 71 78 66 53 36 53
3 Family Planning 48.5 52.2 61.3 63.6 59.6 62.8 65.6 68.2 69.0 67.6
4 Vitamin A 4.8 14.4 11.2 19.2 14.0 15.5 23.2 20.7 18.0 20.0
5 Immunisation - 60.7 59.3 62.3 58.7 - 80.0 95.5 96.7 93.2
6 No ANC Checkup 25.9 8.1 7.2 2.9 7.3 14.6 5.0 3.8 0.0 4.1
7 Delivery at home 62.4 32.7 24.5 13.1 25.4 57.9 14.1 18.8 12.8 19.9
8 HW Visit 26.4 22.8 17.8 12.1 17.4 - - - - -
Nutritional Status of Ever-married Women aged 15-49
9 Mean Height (cm) 151.3 149.9 150.9 152.3 151.2 151.1 151.1 151.6 153.1 151.7
10 % < 145 cm 9.4 16.7 14.0 9.1 12.7 12.0 18.9 12.5 8.1 12.4
11 Mean BMI 19.1 19.4 19.9 21.7 20.3 20.4 19.5 20.5 22.2 20.9
12 % BMI < 18.5 44.2 44.8 40.6 26.9 37.4 36.8 42.6 36.2 22.4 33.1
13 % with Anaemia 48.6 56.0 48.5 47.9 49.8 67.9 64.9 64.0 58.0 62.9
Nutritional Status of Children under age 3 years
Weight for age
14 % below –3SD 7.5 14.2 12.5 4.8 10.3 14.9 7.9 9.8 5.3 8.9
15 % below –2SD 45.9 43.4 39.1 29.7 37.7 51.6 30.8 29.1 21.8 29.7
Height for age
16 % below –3SD 18.5 20.7 15.1 10.1 14.2 14.9 7.9 9.8 5.3 8.9
17 % below –2SD 49.4 44.6 39.8 32.3 38.6 50.4 42.3 39.6 28.4 38.5
18 % with Anemia 68.2 79.6 71.4 69.7 72.3 89.6 76.0 81.1 75.7 79.6
Note: 1. TFR – Total Fertility Rate; IMR – Infant Mortality Rate; ANC – Antenatal Care; BMI – Body Mass
Index; HW – Health Worker; 2. It is to be noted that the reference period for IMR in NFHS II was three years
preceding the survey and for NFHS III it was five years; 3. Vitamin A – percentage of 12-35 months children who
had at least one dose of Vitamin A during the last six months; 4. Immunisation – percentage of 12-23 months
children who had all vaccinations including BCG, Measles and three doses each of DPT and Polio vaccines
(excluding Polio 0); 5. For 2005-06 the data is as estimated by the authors using NFHS III provisional raw data.
Source: NFHS II (1998-99) and NFHS III (2005-06).
The other indicator of the health status of the population is access/utilisation of health care
services; for this the indicators used are: immunization of children and health care provided at
the time of delivery. Andhra Pradesh has not yet achieved universal immunization but is
nearing this goal. There was a significant increase in the percentage of children (12-23
months age) who were fully immunized (all prescribed vaccines) during 1998-99 to 2005-06,
while disparities in the levels of immunisation persisted across social groups. Though the
performance of the state was impressive in terms of immunization, the coverage in supplying
Vitamin A supplement was poor across all social groups, with persisting disparities in the
percentage of children (12-35 months age) receiving Vitamin A supplement.

Antenatal care monitors pregnant women for signs of complications to detect and treat pre-
existing and concurrent problems of pregnancy, and provides advice and counseling on
preventive care, diet during pregnancy, delivery care, postnatal care, and related issues. The
Safe Motherhood initiative insists that all pregnant women must receive basic, professional
antenatal care (IIPS, 2000). The performance of the state seems to be better in antenatal care
and there was an improvement in the percentage of pregnant women receiving antenatal care
over a period time, while disparities have declined across social groups. The number of
antenatal check-ups and the timing of the first check-up are important for the health of the
mother and the outcome of the pregnancy.
The place of delivery is an indicator of access to delivery care. The main thrust of the
Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) programme in India is to encourage deliveries under
proper hygienic conditions under the supervision of a trained health professional where
institutional deliveries are preferred to deliveries at home (IIPS, 2000). Though there was an
increase in institutional deliveries in Andhra Pradesh over a period time, about 20 per cent of
childbirths were still taking place at home. Disparities in delivery care across social groups
were alarming especially when the STs are compared with the ‘other’ community. While
nearly 57.9 per cent of childbirths in the ST community took place at (own) home it was 12.8
per cent among the ‘other’ community.
The National Health Policy (1983) gave top priority to providing health services to people
residing in tribal, hilly and backward areas as well as to the population affected by endemic
diseases and vulnerable sections of society. Therefore, the norms for population coverage
were relaxed in order to provide better health care to Scheduled Castes and Tribes. This was
further supported by the implementation of programmes like the control of communicable
and other diseases and especially undertaking research on diseases to which Scheduled
Tribes/ Scheduled Castes are generally prone. Mobile dispensaries and camps were organised
wherever feasible to catering to their needs at their doorstep3. Information on health care
facilities is available by SC village, ST village and all villages, but not on whether these
facilities are located in their settlements. This is important, for most SC and ST typically live
in separate settlements adjacent to the main villages dominantly inhabited by non-ST/SC
population. The information available, however, indicates that the SC and ST are at a
disadvantageous position in terms of health care facilities.
The recent National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) launched in 2005 to provide accessible,
affordable and accountable quality health services to the poorest households in the remotest
rural regions. Although the mission is getting implemented in Andhra Pradesh it is not one of
those 18 focused states4 in India that are considered as poor performers in health indicators
and health infrastructure.
The Arogyasri health insurance scheme, the most popular scheme in India, implemented in
Andhra Pradesh has in fact has improved the sick-poor access to and reduced the economic
burden of tertiary health care but it came at the cost of public health care at primary and
secondary levels that addresses the larger and wide spread disease burden than that of the
3
Under the Minimum Needs Programmes, at the national level, 14,723 Sub-Centres, 4,301 Primary Health
Centres and 292 Community Health Centres have been established in Scheduled Caste Bastis/Villages with 20
per cent or more Scheduled Castes population, besides 558 Allopathic Hospitals/Dispensaries.
4
These 18 States are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu &
Kashmir, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Orissa, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura,
Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh.
tertiary cases (Prasad and Raghavendra, 2012). Although the sick-poor belonging to SC/ST
are benefiting from the scheme, the implication of getting neglect of public health at the
primary and secondary levels is that it adversely affect these groups concentrated in rural and
remote areas.
V Employment Structure
Economic conditions of people in one or the other way are governed by the occupational
structure of the household. Most of the SC and STs are continued to be in their traditional
hereditary occupations, mostly agriculture as the principal source of livelihood especially in
rural areas. About 90% of STs and 80% of SCs in the state are located in rural Andhra
Pradesh. More than 85% of STs and around two-thirds of the SCs in the state (in 2009-10)
depend on agriculture as the principal source of livelihood (either as cultivators or as
agricultural labour). About 44.5% of the STs in the state are in cultivator households, while
for a majority of SCs live in those household for which the principal source of livelihood was
agricultural labour. The STs are better placed when compared to SC in ownership of land
(Table 5.1).
Table 5.1: Distribution (%) of population across social groups by type of household
- Andhra Pradesh
Social Groups Rural Urban
SENA AL OL SEA Others SEA RW CL Others
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
1983 ST 11.5 47.1 7.8 29.9 3.6 - - - -
SC 4.4 75.5 4.4 11.4 4.3 - - - -
Others 15.8 29.2 7.1 39.9 8.0 - - - -
Total 13.4 39.1 6.6 33.8 7.0 - - - -
1993-94 ST 9.7 37.0 5.0 45.0 3.3 26.1 41.9 25.8 6.1
SC 5.9 69.1 9.2 11.8 4.0 20 48.6 26.8 4.7
Others 17.8 31.8 8.6 35 6.8 37.6 41.3 16 5.1
Total 14.8 39.4 8.4 31.4 6.0 35.8 41.9 17.2 5.1
2004-05 ST 7.5 43.7 4.0 35.4 9.3 62.9 21.5 10.9 4.7
SC 8.7 60.7 11.5 11.6 7.5 24.5 40.1 28.9 6.5
OBCs 21.1 32.5 10.2 27.6 8.6 44 31.4 19.1 5.5
Others 20.0 20.0 8.8 40.8 10.5 45.7 41.5 6.3 6.5
(20.7) (28.1) (9.7) (32.2) (9.3) (44.8) (36.2) (13.0) (6.0)
Total 17.4 35.7 9.6 28.4 8.9 42.8 36.2 15.0 6.0
2009-10 ST 1.9 44.5 7.8 41.6 4.2 27.8 38.2 23.8 10.2
SC 11.1 54.8 17.2 8.2 8.8 23.6 43.7 26.6 6.2
OBCs 18.7 36.8 13.4 23.8 7.3 35.3 40 16.9 7.8
Others 21.8 16.2 11.4 32.3 18.4 38.6 41.9 9.0 10.5
Total 16.5 36.8 13.4 23.5 9.9 34.9 41.2 15.2 8.7
Note: 1. Figures represent the population; 2. Figure in parenthesis includes both OBC and the ‘Other’ community for
2004-05 and is comparable with the ‘other’ in 1993-94; 3. SENA – Self-employed in Non-Agriculture; AL –
Agricultural Labour; OL – Other Labour; SEA – Self-employed in Agriculture; SE – Self-Employed; RW/SE –
Regular Wage or Salaried; CL – Casual Labour; 4. ‘-‘ Not available.
Source: Estimations based on NSS 61st round EUS raw data.
However, the position of the ST had deteriorated over the last one-and-half half decade
(between 1994 and 2010). There was a decline in the percentage of ST households who were
cultivators indicates loss of land resources and corresponding increase in the dependency on
agricultural labour. It is to be noted that the percentage of population depending on
agriculture labour in the state has increased only in the case of ST, whereas it declined for
SCs. Among the cultivator households, the majority are marginal and small cultivator
households across all social groups including those belonging to ST. However these groups,
especially the STs, are unaware of modern methods of cultivation and use outmoded
techniques. Besides, they get a low price for their output due to inadequate basic
infrastructure coupled with limited access to market.
It is also observed that there are considerable variations across social groups in work
participation rates wherein. It is the highest among the ST community and the lowest is
among the ‘other’ community (Table 5.2a). The high work participation is not necessarily
due to demand, it could be that out of economic necessity as many family members including
the children had to participate in work for their effort to meet their family subsistence.
Table 5.2a: Work Participation Rates (%) across Social Groups in Andhra Pradesh
Social 1983 1993-94 2004-05 2009-10
Group Rural Urban Total Rural Urban Total Rural Urban Total Rural Urban Total
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
ST 59.9 39.9 57.6 65.9 44.7 63.8 55 32.8 52 57.9 41.8 56.5
SC 58.3 34.9 55.0 59.6 39 56.9 55.7 37.6 52.3 54.1 39.2 51.1
OBC - - - - - - 55.5 43.7 52.6 52.6 38.2 48.7
Others 52.2 34.7 47.6 56 37.2 50.3 51.2 (54.0) 35.2 (39.7) 45.6 (49.9) 47.1 33.1 41.2
All 53.9 34.9 49.4 57.5 37.6 52.3 54.4 39.2 50.5 52.1 36.4 47.6
Note: 1. Workers included both the Usual Principal and Subsidiary status; 2. Figure in parenthesis includes both OBC and
Other which is comparable with the ‘other’ in 1993-94.
Source: Estimations using NSS three Quinquinnial rounds of Employment and Unemployment Survey unit record data.
The incidence of child labour (among 5 to 14 years age group) has been highest among the
STs followed by SCs. There was a sharp decline in incidence of children during the last three
decades. However, the incidence of child labour among ST children increased between 1983
and 1993-94 and thereafter it began to decline and reached its lowest to 5.5% in 2009-10
(Table 5.2b). The effort of state and community level interventions in reducing the incidence
of child labour and increasing the enrolment of children in schools are noteworthy. Yet,
considerable proportions (5.5%) of children of ST community are working.
Table 5.2b: Incidence of Child Labour across Social Groups in Andhra Pradesh -
Work Participation Rates (%) of 5-14 age groups
Social 1983 1993-94 2004-05 2009-10
Group Rural Urban Total Rural Urban Total Rural Urban Total Rural Urban Total
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
ST 30.5 8.6 27.7 34.3 17.1 32.6 11.0 2.9 10.0 6.0 0.4 5.5
SC 23.6 4.8 20.9 17.9 5.4 16.2 6.9 0.8 5.9 1.5 1.2 1.5
Others 21.4 8.4 18.1 15.4 6.6 12.7 8.2 4.0 7.2 1.5 0.9 1.3
All 22.4 8.0 19.0 17.6 6.8 14.8 6.2 2.7 4.8 1.3 0.6 1.0
Note: 1. Workers included both the Usual Principal and Subsidiary status.
Source: Estimations using NSS three Quinquinnial rounds of Employment and Unemployment Survey unit record data.
The distribution of workforce between agriculture and non-agricultural activities shows that a
majority of the workforce in the state still depend on the agricultural activities especially in
rural Andhra Pradesh. Across social groups the dependency on agricultural activities is even
higher among the workforce belonging ST and SC communities in the state. About 89% and
73% of the rural workforce belonging to ST and SC communities in the state are engaged in
agriculture related activities (see Table A4). The general trend of a slow pace of
diversification towards non-agricultural activities in Andhra Pradesh is observed across social

groups (Figure 5.1 and Table A4). Particularly ST community has not been witnessed even
this slow pace of diversification, rather it has been continued with stagnant pattern.
Figure 5.1: Trend in Share of Non-Agriculture in Workforce across Social Groups – A P

a) Andhra Pradesh (Rural and Urban) b) Rural Andhra Pradesh
80.0 50
60.0 40
30
40.0
20
20.0
10
0.0 0
1983 1993-94 2004-05 2009-10 1983 1993-94 2004-05 2009-10
Source: Estimates based on NSS Employment and Unemployment Survey unit record data.
The above analysis indicate a high dependence on agriculture, higher work participation and
lesser or negligible levels of occupational diversification particularly among these socially
backward (SC/ST) communities. Desperate participation in workforce without sufficient
work and income/wage is causing for the underemployment which in turn keeps productivity
of labour at a very low level. Concentration of workforce belong SC/STs heavily in
agriculture, especially STs with the primitive nature production techniques, under the
conditions of underemployment keeping wages and productivity, may not come into aid for
the effort to improve their standard of living. Despite the impressive economic growth which
is largely due to growth in non-agriculture, a large section of people in general and SC/ST in
particular, involved in agriculture which in general is a poor performing sector, are not able
to benefit from the spectacular growth.
VI Access to Assets: Land

Access to land is one of the important indicators of better livelihoods in rural areas. In rural
Andhra Pradesh, there was little difference in land owned5 and possessed6 across social
groups and the SCs are, in fact, better placed in terms of land owned. Landlessness (in terms
of land possessed) became negligible between 1993-94 and 2004-05. However, land available
for cultivation is more important in an agrarian economy. All the land owned or possessed
may not be cultivated7 owing to various reasons. As a matter of fact, the land owned by about
45% of population in the state has used it only for housing.
In terms of cultivated land the SC and ST appear to be the most and the least disadvantaged
when compared with the state average or the ‘other’ social group. The latest estimates (2009-
10) for rural Andhra Pradesh shows that the percentage of population in households with
cultivated land was 32% and 57% respectively for SC and ST communities and the state
average was 46.2%. Between 1993-94 and 2009-10 the percentage of rural population living
in households with cultivated land declined to a considerable extent across all social groups,
but the decline was highest for ST followed by SC (Table 6.1) so that landlessness (lack of
5
Land owned – includes land that is leased-out.
6
Land possessed - includes Land owned and leased-in and excludes land leased-out.
7
Land cultivated is actual land under cultivation which is either owned or leased-in.
cultivated land) is increasing among these socially disadvantaged groups. The question is
whether the increasing landless is due to land sales because of economic distress or due to
better opportunities available in non-farm activities or for any other cause. As observed with
respect to employment, the percentage of population especially among STs depending on
(casual) agricultural labour had increased, which indicates the worsening situation (from
cultivators to labourers) for STs in rural Andhra Pradesh.
Table 6.1: Percentage of Population concentrated in those Households that Owned

Cultivated and/or Irrigated Land across Social Groups in Rural Andhra Pradesh
Cultivated Land Irrigated Land
Year
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1993-94 70.4 45.4 - 58.1 56.7 - - - - -
2004-05 54.5 33.0 47.1 51.9 (48.7) 46.2 21.7 13.5 23.1 30.6 22.9
2009-10 57.2 32.2 42.3 40.1 40.6 - - - - -
Note: Figure in parenthesis includes both OBC and Other which is comparable with the ‘other’ in 1993-94.
Source: Estimates using NSSO Quinquennial Employment and Unemployment Survey unit record data.
Since Independence, the government has considered problems of land as a matter of pressing
urgency. The objective of poverty eradication envisaged progress on two fronts
simultaneously, high productivity and equitable distribution. Accordingly, land reforms were
introduced to mitigate land-related problems like concentration, tenancy rights, and land for
the landless. Because of the severe disadvantage suffered by the SC and ST, these
communities were targeted while distributing surplus land in India as well as in Andhra
Pradesh, so that they gained access to land. But land reform has to be more than the mere
redistribution of land to the landless. It is equally important to ensure the availability of other
inputs for cultivation to improve the productivity of land. But to what extent have these
disadvantaged groups gained access to these agricultural inputs? For instance, access to
irrigation, which is considered a leading input for cultivation, is inadequate for SC and ST.
The percentage of population in households with irrigated land was the lowest among SC
(13.5%) followed by ST (21.7%) when compared to the ‘other’ community (30.6%) and the
state average (22.9%). Availability of other necessary inputs would also be inadequate for SC
and ST.
We now turn to a further analysis of the data relating to the number of holdings and operated
areas across social groups based on the Agricultural Census. It indicates that there was an
increase in the number of holdings and area operated by the SC and ST during the last one-
and-half decade (between 1995-96 and 2010-10) (Table 6.2). But this increase in the number
of holdings and area operated for the ST and SC were probably not only due to land
distribution as a part of land reforms. Land transfers have been taking place in the changing
dynamics of the rural economy in Andhra Pradesh, horizontally (within a socio-economic
class) and vertically (across social and economic classes). Land owned by the dominant
cultivating castes had declined because they were moving out of rural areas and agricultural
activities to the urban areas and the non-agricultural activities. There was a corresponding
increase in the control of land by backward communities (Reddy, 2006). The ST and SC
therefore might have acquired land through purchase.

Table 6.2: Number of Holding and Area Operated across Social Groups in A P
Social Number of Holdings Operated Area Average Size of Holding
Group 1995-96 2005-06 2010-11 1995-96 2005-06 2010-11 1995-96 2005-06 2010-11
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
SC 12.85 (12.1) 14.22 (11.8) 14.57 (11.1) 10.66 (7.4) 11.36 (7.8) 11.00 (7.7) 0.83 0.80 0.76
ST 7.54 (7.1) 9.27 (7.7) 10.59 (8.0) 10.87 (7.6) 12.12 (8.4) 12.48 (8.7) 1.44 1.31 1.18
Others 85.64 (80.8) 96.95 (80.5) 106.59 (80.9) 122.20 (80.5) 121.41 (83.8) 119.45 (83.6) 1.43 1.25 1.12
All 106.03 (100) 120.44 (100) 131.75 (100) 143.73 (100) 144.89 (100) 142.93 (100) 1.36 1.20 1.08
Note: 1. Holdings are in lakhs and Areas is in lakh hectares; 2. Figures in parenthesis are percentages of respective
social group in the total.
Source: 1. Agricultural Census, DES, Hyderabad: 2. GoI (2012).
However, the share of these marginalized communities, especially SC, in the total number of
holdings or operated area was well below their share in total population (around 16%). The
share of SC in the total area operated was less than their share in the holders. Therefore, the
average size of their land holding was much smaller than for any other social group. The
situation was relatively better for the ST as their share in operated area was the same as their
share in total population - around 8% (Table 6.2).
The pattern of land distribution across social groups shows that the number of holdings and
area operated in the marginal and small size classes had increased while declining in the
medium and large holdings classes. For the SC, marginal and small holdings comprised 92
per cent of the total number of holdings but the area under these holdings accounted for
around 66 per cent of the total area owned by them (Table 6.2 and Figure 6.1).
Figure 6.1: Percentage Distribution of Size Class of Holding across Social Groups in
Andhra Pradesh, 2010-11
76.2 All SC ST Others

80.0
70.0 63.9
60.0
50.0 41.5
40.0 31.1
28.8
22.1 26.1 25.8
30.0 17.0 19.0 15.5
20.0 10.6
5.8 7.1
10.0 3.01.0 0.30.1 3.91.4
0.0
Mrgl Sml SM Med Larg Mrgl Sml SM Med Larg
Number of Holdings Area Operated
Note: Mrgl – Marginal; Sml – Small; SM – Semi-medium; Med – Medium; Larg - Large
Source: Agricultural Census.
The share of the ST in marginal and small holdings was nearly 80% of total holdings and
50% of the area operated. Though the marginalisation (increasing share of small and marginal
farmers) of the peasantry had taken place across all social groups, it was more in the case of
SCs (see Figure 6.2).

Figure 6.2: Percentage of small-marginal (together) in the total number of operated
Holdings and Area across Social groups in Andhra Pradesh
93.2
All SC ST Others
92.0
91.5
91.2
86.1
85.3
83.9
100
83.5
82.7
82.6
81.8
80.8
80.3
79.5
78.8
76.9
72.5
68.6
66.9
66.1
80
54.9
53.8
53.4
48.5
47.4
46.7
46.3
44.7
44.6
60
42.8
42.7
40 40.5
20
0
1995-96 2000-01 2005-06 2010-11 1995-96 2000-01 2005-06 2010-11
Area Holdings
Note: Area – Operational Area
Source: Computed using Agriculture Census, Government of India.
On the whole, it may be mentioned that access to land is still denied to many SCs. As a result,
a majority of them continue to be landless agricultural labourers. Further, since most families
who own land, especially SC, are small and marginal farmers, their capacity to invest in
agriculture is very inadequate and their access to credit is negligible. Although ST are
relatively better placed in terms of access to land, factors such as traditional cultivation
techniques, lack of access to modern technology and inputs including credit, undermines their
economic progress.
VII Levels of Living

Income and Poverty
Income poverty is only one of the multiple deprivations that the SC and ST have suffered
continuously, even after nearly six decades of development planning. Across social groups,
the percentage of population living below the poverty line is significant and it is the highest
among the ST and SC communities when compared to the rest.
The estimates of mean consumption expenditure using NSS Consumption Expenditure

Survey data clearly indicate differences in the level of consumption expenditure across social
groups, and how far SC/STs lagging behind when compared to the ‘others’ category social
group (Table 7.1). Moreover the gap in terms of mean consumption expenditure between
these SC and ST communities and the ‘others’ are increasing over a period of time, which
indicates increasing economic inequalities across social groups.

Table 7.1: Average Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) across
Social Groups in Andhra Pradesh (in Rs.) – Nominal Prices
Year Rural Urban
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
1983 129 131 - 159 156 129 131 - 159 156
1993-94 263 230 - 308 289 358 347 - 416 409
2004-05 431 495 581 722 (629) 586 698 829 908 1245 (1063) 1019
2009-10 753 962 959 1313 1020 1776 1647 1755 2322 1982
Note: 1. Based on URP (Uniform Reference Period); 2. The ‘others’ for 1983 and 1993-94 includes OBC
category, figures in ( ) for 2004-05 are comparable with ‘others’ in 1993-94 and 1983.
Source: Estimates using NSSO Consumer Expenditure Survey unit record data.
The head count ratio of poverty measured using NSS Consumption Expenditure Survey data
also shows that the percentage of poor was much higher among the SC/ST community and
lower among the ‘others’, indicating wide disparities across social groups in the state (Table
7.2). Moreover, the disparity in terms of level of poverty has increased especially between ST
and ‘others’ category. Although, the overall poverty ratio and the ratio among SC and the
other social groups had declined, the head count ratio of poverty (HCR) among STs in both
the rural and urban areas had increased from between 1993-94 and 2004-05 and but the
recent estimate show a sharp decline (between 2004-05 and 2009-10) in poverty ratio among
the STs. Most of the increase/decrease in the poverty ratio among STs was due to the
increase/decrease of poverty ratio among agricultural laborers belonging to ST community. It
indicates the failure of state policy in targeting initiatives and programmes to marginalized
sections like ST and SC. Otherwise it would have been seen a further decline in poverty.
Table 7.2: Poverty Ratio (HCR) across Social Groups in Andhra Pradesh
Year Rural Urban
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
1993-94 58.4 64.4 - 42.4 48.1 43.9 45.5 - 34 35.2
2004-05 60.3 41.8 31.6 16.1 (26.4) 32.3 50.1 35.0 23.8 16.5 (20.4) 23.4
2009-10 40.2 25.7 24.3 10.3 22.7 21.2 19.8 19.7 14.7 17.7
Note: 1. Tendulkar Committee Methodology is based on MRP (Mixed Reference Period); 2. For the year 2009-
10 state poverty line is updated based on price indices of CPIAL and CPIIW.
Source: Estimated using NSSO Consumer Expenditure Survey unit record data.
Deprivation of Basic Amenities

Access to basic infrastructure such as education and health services available at the village
level and household amenities such as drinking water, sanitation, and electricity is quite poor
for ST and SC. In nine per cent of the total twenty six thousand villages in Andhra Pradesh,
the entire population was ST. About 20 percent of the villages were predominantly (i.e. 50%
or more) inhabited by ST and another 3% by the SC. Together, these 23% villages account
for about 7.2% of the total rural population in the state. About 5% of the total SC and about
45% of ST population in rural Andhra Pradesh were located in villages which were
predominantly inhabited by SC and ST.

Table 7.3: Access to Basic Infrastructure in A P: Percentage of Villages
Predominantly Inhabited by SC and ST, having Facility - 2001
Sno Facility SC ST Others All
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Education 93.3 80.5 98.0 94.4
2 Medical 34.3 51.9 63.9 60.6
3 Tap Water 44.4 8.4 60.1 49.4
4 Post Office 28.4 14.5 62.4 51.9
5 Phone Connection 39.0 8.5 59.0 48.4
6 Transportation 68.7 26.3 84.0 72.2
7 Road Connection 72.0 33.0 81.5 71.6
8 Electricity 100 100 100 100
Note: Villages Predominantly in habited by SC/ST means that above 50 percent of the population is
characterized SC or ST.
Source: Computed using Census 2001 Village Directory for Andhra Pradesh.
The availability of basic infrastructure and access to facilities in these villages was
comparatively poor when compared to the ‘other’ villages (Table 7.3) and the people living
in these villages, mostly SC and ST, were more deprived of basic infrastructure. STs were
worse affected than the SCs, and the situation was very bad in ST villages. About 90% did
not have tap water, while 67% were without a road connection and 73% without any
transportation facility. People living in these ST villages were not connected with the outside
world, as there were no proper roads or transportation. Medical services were not available in
about 50% of ST villages in A.P.
ST and SC were also disadvantaged in terms of household amenities (Table 7.4). Though
every village and town in the state was electrified, about 32.6% of households did not have
electricity connection in 2001. The percentage of households without electricity was highest
among ST (64.6%) followed by SC (50.5%), and was higher in rural areas than in urban areas
across social groups.
Table 7.4: Percentage of Households without selected Basic Amenities in A P, 2001

ST SC All
Facility Total Rural Urban Total Rural Urban Total Rural Urban
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 No Electricity 64.6 69.5 26.1 50.5 56.6 20.6 32.8 40.3 10.0
2 No Toilet 87.4 93.9 37.4 80.9 89.8 37.2 67.0 81.9 21.9
3 No Tap Water 75.9 80.8 37.7 53.8 58.9 29.2 51.9 59.7 28.1
4 One or None Dwelling Rooms 65.6 67.4 51.9 62.1 64.8 49.3 50.9 55.5 36.9
5 No Drainage 70.2 75.2 31.4 56.5 62.8 25.8 48.4 58.6 17.7
6 No Bathroom 14.3 8.4 60.3 22.5 14.2 63.2 39.8 27.1 78.5
7 Traditional Fuel 91.5 96.8 50.4 86.1 93.6 49.3 73.5 87.3 31.4
8 None of the Specified Assets 66.0 69.6 37.5 59.9 64.8 35.9 45.9 53.2 24.0
Note: 1. Assets specified in Census 2001 are Banking Services, Radio, Transistor, Television, Telephone, Bicycle, Scooter,
Motor Cycle, Car, Jeep, Van; 2. Traditional Fuel includes firewood, crop residue, cow dung cake, and charcoal.
Source: Census 2001.
More than 60% of the ST and SC households lived in a single room and about 3 to 4% did
not have even that single room. Access to safe drinking water is extremely important for

better health and higher human development. But, 52% of the households in general and
about 76% and 54% of ST and SC households did not have tap water (safe drinking water).
The situation with regard to access to other basic facilities was equally bad. On the whole,
deprivation in terms of not having access to basic household amenities was in general higher
and more severe for ST and SC.
VIII Atrocities
The Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
(2004-2005) noted that “even after more than five decades of Independence, the Scheduled
Caste and Scheduled Tribe people representing over one-fourth of India’s population, endure
social ostracization”. Atrocity is an expression commonly used to refer to crimes against the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in India. The caste system lies at the root of
atrocities. Though the practice of untouchability – the imposition of social disabilities on
persons by reason of birth into a particular caste, was abolished and forbidden in any form
under Article 17 of the Constitution of India, it has been continued in one form or the other.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee8 noted that “generally SC/ST people avoid reporting
crimes and fighting cases just to escape police harassment and fear of cases languishing in
courts for long.” This Committee, since its inception in 1968, had presented as many as 176
Original Reports and 169 Action Taken Reports to Parliament till 2004. In addition, 191
Reports on the Study Tours undertaken by different Study Groups of the Committee have
also been laid on the table of both houses of Parliament (APHDR, 2008).
In respect to crimes against SC and ST, Andhra Pradesh is recorded as third largest state in
India. In 2011, a total of 4016 and 805 incidents of crime against SC and ST respectively
were recorded in the state (Table 8.2). The incidence of crime against SC/ST is found to be
increasing in the state as well as in the country. The crime rate (i.e. number of crime incidents
per lakh population) was 29 and 14 respectively for SC and ST in Andhra Pradesh. The
corresponding figures at the all-India level were 17 and 6. It indicates the crime rate against
SC/ST in the state is higher than the national average. Two states such as Uttar Pradesh, and
Rajasthan had a higher incidence of crimes and crime rate against SCs than Andhra Pradesh,
while Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan were the leading states in case of crimes against STs.
Table 8.1: Incidence of Crime Committed Against SCs and STs in A P and India, 2005
SCs STs
Type of Crime AP India AP India
Murder 37 669 12 164
Rape 74 1172 34 640
Kidnapping & Abduction 21 258 2 72
Dacoity 0 26 0 27
Robbery 0 80 1 49
Arson 9 210 1 38
Hurt 459 3847 70 767
Prot. of Civil Rights Act 61 291 0 162
SC/ST Prev. of Atrocities Act 1244 8497 196 1283
Other Offences 1212 11077 199 2511
Total Crimes 3117 26127 515 5713
Note: Incidence – no of cases registered.
Source: www.indiastat.com; Ministry of Home Affairs.
8
Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (2004-2005) Fourth Report.
Table 8.2: Crime Rate against SC/ST in Andhra Pradesh and India
ST SC
State 2005 2009 2010 2011 2005 2009 2010 2011
Crime Incidence (No of Crimes against SC/ST - registered)
AP 515 830 807 805 3117 4504 4321 4016
All India 5713 5425 5885 5756 26127 33594 32712 33719
% of AP 9.0 15.3 13.7 14.0 11.9 13.4 13.2 11.9
Population (in Millions)
AP 5.4 5.7 5.8 5.9 13.2 13.6 13.8 13.9
All India 92.6 98.9 100.8 102.9 180.6 192.6 196.1 199.7
% of AP 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 7.3 7.1 7.0 7.0
Crime Rate (incidence per lakh SC/ST population)
AP 10 15 14 14 24 33 31 29
All India 6 5 6 6 14 17 17 17
Note: 1. Crime Rate is incidence for lakh of respective category (SC/ST) population; 2. Population figures
are extrapolated for the year 2005 based on annual growth rate during 1991-2001.
Source: Computed using Crime Record Bureau information and Census Data.
Scheduled Caste women suffer from many forms of discrimination and deprivation9.
Scheduled Caste women are victimized by upper castes because they lack the social position
to stand up for their rights individually and because assaulting or raping them reinforces the
subordination of the whole SC community to upper castes. Scheduled Caste women do not
know their rights and are too powerless individually to hold the judiciary and the executive
accountable for enforcing protective laws. The government of Andhra Pradesh has identified
the following districts as sensitive from the point of view of crimes against Scheduled Castes
and Scheduled Tribes: Chittoor, East Godavari, Mahabubnagar, Nellore, Khammam and
Warangal (6 districts).
A study10 conducted by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
in 1990 pointed out that various factors were responsible for atrocities. These included
economic causes such as land disputes, land alienation, bonded labour, indebtedness, non-
payment of minimum wages as well as non-economic causes such as caste prejudice and
practice of untouchability, deep-rooted social resentment, political factions on caste lines and
refusal to perform (formerly traditional) services like digging burial pits, arranging
cremations, removal of the carcasses of dead animals and beating of drum, etc. While the
growing number of cases is attributed to growing awareness among the victims about legal
recourse, it cannot be denied that, even after so many years of planned development,
atrocities continue and are probably increasing11.
A primary survey in Andhra Pradesh revealed that these crimes take numerous forms. They
include murder, rape, parading of a Dalit woman in the nude, social boycott, grievous hurt,
beating, attacking Dalit bastis, destruction of property, causing serious injuries, death in
police custody, encroachment on Dalit lands, bonded labour, forceful eviction from house
sites, harassment due to love relationship with caste Hindu, suicide due to humiliation and
excessive beating by the police; being beaten: for riding a cycle, wearing nice clothes, for
9 Barnhardt et al.
10
Atrocities on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes – Causes and Remedies.
11
Three states (Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh) accounted for an abnormally high number of
cases of atrocities committed on Scheduled Castes /Scheduled Tribes, 63.5 per cent of the total atrocity cases in
the country in 2000. Other states (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala,
Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu) accounted for 35.5 percent.
sitting in the bus; harassment of Dalits Sarpanches and Panchayat members, and resentment
and insult when a Dalit wins an election. Attempts by the Dalits to assert their self-respect
and to break the taboos imposed by the high castes are viewed with hostility and suspicion
and met with violence of various types. Whenever Dalits have tried to organize themselves or
assert their rights, there has been a backlash from the high caste feudal lords resulting in mass
killings, gang rapes and arson12.
IX Resource Allocations
Since the 1980s there has been a steady decline in the allocation of government funds for SC
and ST development and welfare projects. The strategy of a Special Component Plan (SCP)
for the development of Scheduled Castes was adopted during the Sixth Five Year Plan. The
scheme of Special Central Assistance to SCP was initiated in 1980 and envisaged that the
states would prepare Special Component Plans every financial year so as to ensure that a
percentage of budgetary funds equal to the percentage of Scheduled Castes in the state would
be set aside for their economic development and uplift. This strategy was adopted to ensure
adequate flow of financial outlays from the state and central government plans in proportion
to the Scheduled Caste population for the schemes and programmes for the development of
the Scheduled Castes. The government of India supplemented the efforts of the state
governments with Special Central Assistance for SCP. Andhra Pradesh was one of the states
which formulated Special Component Plans for the development of its Scheduled Caste
population. Similarly is the case of Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP).
The allocation and expenditure13 of Special Component Plan (SCP) funds between 1992-93
and 2003-04 in Andhra Pradesh justify the remarks of Committee of Governors that these
welfare concepts which were evolved 20 years ago, “have not been satisfactory and there are
numerous instances of lesser allocations, transfer of funds and shortfalls in expenditure”. The
SCP allocations have never exceeded 12 per cent as against the recommended allocation of
15 per cent and over ten years, the shortfall in allocation of SCP funds worked out to Rs
4097.01 crores. On the same lines, in five years the shortfall in allocations of TSP funds
worked out to Rs.567.98 crores. Against an allocation of Rs.1082.75 crore for Social Welfare
in 2003-04, the allocation in 2004-05 was only Rs.1197.64 crores. The allocation for the
welfare of Backward Classes was, in fact, reduced. The share in the budget for the 15 per cent
SC population worked out to only 1.5 per cent. A study by the Centre for Dalit Studies has
also concluded on similar lines that the results of the Special Component Plan (SCP) have not
been fully satisfactory and that there are numerous instances of lower allocations, transfer of
funds and shortfalls in expenditure.
12 Sukhadeo Thorat and S. Venkatesan, (2004) Caste Conflict, Poverty and Human Development in India,
Indian Institute of Dalit Studies. New Delhi, 2004.
13
In 1995-96 Social Welfare Budget allocation was 8.4% of the total plan outlay and this declined to 2.4% in
2002-03. In 1999-00 and 2000-01 the percentage allocations were 0.7% and 1.5% respectively.

Table 9.1: Share of SCP and TSP in Budget Allocation for Elementary
Education and Child Welfare in Andhra Pradesh
Elementary Education Child Welfare
Year
Total Expr. % SCP % TSP Total Expr. % SCP %TSP
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
2000-01 15691.9 0.020 0.011 1340.6 2.223 7.019
2001-02 16578.9 0.000 0.005 1530.7 3.391 7.526
2002-03 17260.0 0.765 0.340 2222.7 3.050 6.092
2003-04 20103.2 0.395 0.946 2502.8 2.385 6.613
2004-05 21036.5 0.523 2.570 2541.7 2.648 6.252
2005-06 30945.1 0.099 1.642 3613.3 1.896 5.970
2006-07 35763.2 1.344 1.934 3601.6 1.902 6.192
Note: Total Expr – Total Expenditure (Rs. in Millions)
Source: Sreedevi (2007).
Also, when the budget allocation in the state, especially under the heads of elementary
education and child welfare, are analysed, it is seen that the allocations under SCP and TSP
were negligible (Table 9.1). At no point of time during last seven years were the shares of
SCP and TSP at the mandatory level i.e. in proportion to the share of SCs and STs in the total
population.
X Conclusions
The level of development of the SC and ST communities, which together comprised one-fifth
of the total population of Andhra Pradesh, definitely influences the average level of
development of all social groups. It is not just that the backwardness of these communities is
pulling down overall development, but that there is a violation of norms like equity, equality
and social justice that ought to be followed in the development process of a welfare state, and
of the rights of these communities to development equally on par with other communities.
The positive discrimination policy of the Indian government followed in the state in favour of
the ST and SC and the subsequent special programmes for their development were intended
to improve their levels of living.
The analysis indicates that although there has been progress on many development indicators
across these SC and ST communities in the state, they still lagged behind the ‘other’ social
groups. Although the gaps between social groups are getting narrower in literacy and child
schooling, gaps remained same with respect to educational levels among the adults. Health
conditions among these communities have improved at a very slow pace. The situation is
alarming with respect to economic well-being as the poverty level especially among the STs.
Slow progress in expected change in structure of employment towards non-agriculture in
general and stagnation among STs for a long time is a cause of concern. Moreover,
landlessness had increased among these communities especially STs. Even among the SC,
total number of operational holdings and area under these holdings is observed to be
marginally declined in the recent past. These facts are cause for policy concern in the state.
The policy initiative of special assistance through SCP/TSP in terms of budget allocations for
the welfare and development of these (SC/ST) communities has not been fulfilled in
implementation. Nevertheless the recent initiative of Government of Andhra Pradesh in this
respect is promising. Given the actual situation of these communities with respect to their
development status, more focused intervention is needed to enhance the pace of development
among these communities.
***
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Venkatanarayana, M (2005) “On the Random Distribution of Educationally Deprived Children in India”,
Working Paper No. 372. Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum.
Venkatanarayana, M (2006) “Child Schooling in a Community in Transition: A Case of Scheduled Tribe in
Andhra Pradesh”, Journal of Educational Planning Administration, January, Vol. 20 (1).
Venkatanarayana, M and L Sudhakar Reddy (2009) “The State of Human Development among the
Marginalised in Andhra Pradesh: A Case of SCs and STs” in Mahendra Dev, S; C Ravi and
M Venkatanarayana (eds.) Human Development in Andhra Pradesh: Experiences, Issues
and Challenges, Centre for Economic and Social Studies, Hyderabad.
World Bank (2011) Poverty and Social Exclusion in India, Oxford University Press, New Delhi.
World Bank (2010) “Inclusive Growth”,
Zheng, Buhong (2011) “Consistent Comparison of Pro-poor Growth”, Social Choice Welfare, 37, pp. 61-79.

Appendix
Table A1: Percent in Total Population, Growth of Population, percent of Urban and Sex Ratio
among SC/STs: Census 2001
% of Population Growth (1991-2001) % of Urban Sex Ratio
Sno Districts ST SC SC/ST ST SC All ST SC All ST SC All
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
1 Srikakulam 6.0 9.0 15.0 1.23 0.57 0.92 1.6 10.5 11.0 1009 1019 1014
2 Vizianagaram 9.6 10.6 20.1 1.26 -0.76 0.67 2.9 20.5 18.3 1025 998 1009
3 Visakhapatnam 14.5 7.6 22.1 1.77 2.83 1.58 3.4 43.5 39.9 1003 984 985
4 East Godavari 3.9 18.0 21.9 0.84 0.65 0.76 5.2 15.4 23.5 1011 993 993
5 West Godavari 2.5 19.2 21.7 1.32 1.48 0.78 8.1 11.8 19.7 1018 985 991
6 Krishna 2.6 17.8 20.4 1.62 1.99 1.26 17.6 15.7 32.1 949 974 978
7 Guntur 4.7 18.3 23.0 1.39 3.62 0.85 18.1 17.3 28.8 962 972 984
8 Prakasam 3.9 21.3 25.2 1.84 1.66 1.06 16.2 8.2 15.3 949 971 971
9 Nellore 9.1 22.0 31.1 1.25 1.17 1.11 12.8 12.3 22.4 961 986 984
10 Chittoor 3.4 18.7 22.2 2.02 1.60 1.41 12.7 11.8 21.7 969 987 982
11 Kadapa 2.4 15.7 18.1 2.63 1.94 1.40 13.3 12.4 22.6 939 975 974
12 Anantapur 3.5 14.1 17.6 1.37 1.32 1.36 12.3 15.3 25.3 935 956 958
13 Kurnool 2.0 17.8 19.8 2.13 1.95 1.75 16.4 18.6 23.2 929 961 965
14 Mahabubnagar 7.9 17.1 25.0 2.06 1.03 1.35 1.8 4.9 10.6 947 973 972
15 Rangareddy 4.1 14.5 18.6 2.98 1.70 3.49 18.0 35.2 54.2 946 973 944
16 Hyderabad 0.9 8.0 8.9 1.97 0.98 2.16 100 100 100 935 985 933
17 Medak 5.0 17.6 22.6 3.57 1.47 1.68 3.3 8.0 14.4 951 992 974
18 Nizamabad 7.1 14.8 21.9 3.24 1.23 1.43 2.5 9.3 18.1 994 1046 1017
19 Adilabad 16.7 18.5 35.3 1.63 1.80 1.81 4.8 23.5 26.5 987 990 989
20 Karimnagar 2.6 18.6 21.2 0.92 1.43 1.43 10.0 12.9 19.4 979 996 998
21 Warangal 14.1 17.0 31.1 1.75 1.30 1.44 2.9 14.6 19.2 944 970 973
22 Khammam 26.5 16.5 43.0 2.02 1.71 1.53 6.0 17.0 19.8 984 969 975
23 Nalgonda 10.6 17.7 28.3 2.22 1.34 1.33 4.6 8.6 13.3 921 972 966
Andhra Pradesh 6.6 16.2 22.8 1.84 1.54 1.39 7.5 17.2 27.3 972 981 978
Note: 1. Growth is for Population and it is compound annual rate of growth (CAGR) and presented in percentage form.
Source: Census of India, Andhra Pradesh.
Table A2: Literacy Rate (7+ age) among SCs and STs, 2001
Literacy All (male and female) Female Literacy
Sno Districts ST SC All ST SC All
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 Srikakulam 41.9 52.9 55.3 30.6 42.1 43.7
2 Vizianagaram 35.3 49.3 51.1 26.2 38.6 39.9
3 Visakhapatnam 34.3 62.0 60.0 22.7 53.0 50.1
4 East Godavari 44.6 61.1 65.5 38.9 56.3 60.9
5 West Godavari 50.9 68.7 73.5 46.0 64.2 69.0
6 Krishna 43.7 63.9 68.8 35.8 57.8 63.2
7 Guntur 37.3 58.3 62.5 27.6 49.1 53.7
8 Prakasam 38.2 52.9 57.4 29.0 40.3 45.1
9 Nellore 37.4 59.3 65.1 32.8 50.2 56.4
10 Chittoor 44.4 60.0 66.8 35.8 49.0 55.8
11 Kadapa 41.2 54.2 62.8 30.1 40.4 49.5
12 Anantapur 44.5 44.5 56.1 31.0 32.5 43.3
13 Kurnool 42.7 45.8 53.2 28.7 32.0 40.0
14 Mahabubnagar 25.8 32.6 44.4 13.3 20.1 31.9
15 Rangareddi 34.5 51.9 66.2 22.1 40.8 56.5
16 Hyderabad 55.4 69.4 78.8 45.7 61.5 73.5
17 Medak 28.1 39.8 51.6 14.3 28.2 38.7
18 Nizamabad 30.7 40.6 52.0 16.5 28.7 39.5
19 Adilabad 39.7 47.6 52.7 26.9 35.2 40.3
20 Karimnagar 34.2 46.5 54.9 22.1 35.3 42.7
21 Warangal 34.4 50.8 57.1 22.4 39.0 45.1
22 Khammam 37.9 53.4 56.9 27.6 43.3 47.4
23 Nalgonda 35.2 50.7 57.2 20.1 37.4 44.7
Andhra Pradesh 37.0 53.5 60.5 26.1 43.4 50.4
Source: Census of India, Andhra Pradesh.

Table A3: Educational Deprivation of Children (5-14 age group) across Social Groups in
Andhra Pradesh - Percentage of Out-of-School Children
SC ST Others
Location 1981 1991 2001 1981 1991 2001 1981 1991 2001
Total 63.8 59.8 23.1 80.6 73.9 35.9 57.3 46.9 20.4
Rural 68.1 64.4 24.2 82.2 76 36.8 63.8 53 21.9
Urban 41.1 39 17.8 56.3 51.7 25.3 38.2 32.5 16.9
Source: Census of India, C Series.
Table A4: Distribution (in %) of Workforce between Agriculture and Non-

Agriculture (NA) Activities across Social Groups in Andhra Pradesh
Year/Sector ST SC OBC Others Total
Agrl NA Agrl NA Agrl NA Agrl NA Agrl NA
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
1983 Rural 82.9 17.1 91.2 8.8 - - 76.7 23.3 80.1 19.9
Urban 19.8 80.2 23.9 76.1 - - 14.3 85.7 15.5 84.5
Total 77.9 22.1 85.1 14.9 - - 64.7 35.3 69.3 30.7
1993-94 Rural 89.1 10.9 89.7 10.3 - - 75 25 79.3 20.7
Urban 21.7 78.3 30.7 69.3 - - 14.7 85.3 16.3 83.7
Total 84.5 15.5 84.3 15.7 - - 61.5 38.5 67.5 32.5
67.6 32.4
Rural 88.5 11.5 80.0 20.0 67.7 32.3 71.8 28.2
(67.7) (32.3)
6.3 93.7
2004-05 Urban 36.5 63.5 11.1 88.9 10.7 89.3 9.9 90.1
(8.8) (92.2)
50.8 49.2
Total 84.0 16.0 70.7 29.3 56.1 43.9 59.4 40.6
(54.3) (45.7)
2009-10 Rural 89.0 11.0 73.0 27.0 67.9 32.1 57.7 42.3 68.7 31.3
Urban 15.8 84.2 7.4 92.6 6.2 93.8 2.8 97.2 5.3 94.7
Total 84.2 15.8 62.9 37.1 54.8 45.2 39.1 60.9 54.8 45.2
Note: 1. Usual Principal and Subsidiary Status; 2. Figure in parenthesis includes both OBC and Other which is
comparable with the ‘other’ in 1993-94.
Source: Estimations using NSS Quinquennial Employment and Unemployment Survey unit record data.

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Munich Personal RePEc Archive

Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Tribes (STs)

S. R. Sankaran Chair (Rural Labour), National Institute of Rural

Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Tribes (STs) in Andhra

Key Words: Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Marginalised, Andhra Pradesh,

JEL Classification: I310, I320.

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 0

Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Tribes (STs) in Andhra

II Size and Growth of Population

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 2

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 3

Note: 1. Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) in percent.

III Human Capital base: Education

Table 3.1: Literacy Levels by Caste and Gender in Andhra Pradesh

Note: Literacy rate for 7 + age population.

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 6

3.2 Levels of Education

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 7

3.3 Educational Deprivation and Child Schooling

Note: Rural-urban and male-female combined.

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 9

Rural-urban differentials in school attendance were higher for ST children as compared to

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 10

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 12

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 15

Figure 5.1: Trend in Share of Non-Agriculture in Workforce across Social Groups – A P

VI Access to Assets: Land

Table 6.1: Percentage of Population concentrated in those Households that Owned

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 17

76.2 All SC ST Others

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 18

VII Levels of Living

The estimates of mean consumption expenditure using NSS Consumption Expenditure

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 19

Deprivation of Basic Amenities

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 20

Table 7.4: Percentage of Households without selected Basic Amenities in A P, 2001

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 21

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 24

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 26

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 27

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 28

Table A4: Distribution (in %) of Workforce between Agriculture and Non-

Situation Assessment Analysis of SC/STs in Andhra Pradesh – M. Venkatanarayana Page 29

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