A Social Charter for India

8

Socio-economic Empowerment of the Weaker Sections of the Society

P. S. Krishnan

Dimensions of the Problem

Contrary to popular perceptions, even of educated classes, and the impression created by the use of terms like ‘marginalised sections’ and ‘weaker sections’, the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) constitute not mere ‘sections’ of the Indian society, but the major part of it. Together, they constitute three-fourths of the Indian population (8 per cent STs, 17 per cent SCs and an estimated 52 per cent OBCs).

They also contribute at present, as they have done through the centuries, the near-totality of the physically labouring population of India. They are typically wage-employed (mainly SC and ...