SOCIAL STATUS AND AWARENESS OF DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES AMONG SCHEDULED CASTES

At present the Scheduled Castes constituting approximately 16.6 (Census 2011) percent of the total population of India and 25.19 percent of total population of Himachal Pradesh (Census 2011) are an important social formation in the Indian social structure. They are a significantly sizeable and competitive minority in relation to majority constituted by high castes, called caste Hindus or twice born. The special reference to them is made here on account of two dimensions of their past and present conditions. Historically, they have been living under highly exploitative conditions coupled with stigma of untouchability and numerous other disabilities. The Government of India with a view to initiate development process, formulated listed the development priorities including the target groups-scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and others. The general social awakening in human society is a gradual process. However, with consistent rise in the literacy rates and the revolution in information technology, the considerable awakening is taking place with reference to people's rights and freedoms and worldwide propagation of democratic system as a form of national governance. The knowledge and awareness that indicates the degree to which an individual understands facts important to his functioning as an active participant is taking place faster in the recent times. Since awareness is mainly seen in terms of receiving benefits, people therefore resort to institutionalized form of collective expression of their dissatisfaction when the development schemes fail to deliver. In other words both awareness and knowledge make people self confident and capable to form an opinion in accordance with the policies and programmes of the government.