Health Schemes Awareness of Rural Households of Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes in Kodagu

Indian economy has been witnessing a higher rate of economic growth for the past two decades and it is also expected to grow at a faster rate in the near future. Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for all at all ages is indispensable to sustainable development of country. Therefore, the health and healthcare awareness level play a very significant role in sustaining higher growth with justice in the long run and also it helps to achieve inclusive growth. In this context, an attempt was made in this study to examine the level of health schemes awareness with respect to rural households of Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes in Kodagu District. The study was based on primary and secondary data hence the primary data were collected during 2018-2019 through field survey. Total 60 households belonged to SC and ST communities were randomly selected in this study for review. Out of 60 respondents, 30 sample respondents selected from the SC community and remaining 30 respondents represent the ST community. Results of the study indicated that the SC and ST rural households are socially and economically very backward and more importantly majority of them were illiterate (30 %) and they were having only primary education (50 %). Further, the level of awareness about health and healthcare facilities was found to be lowest among SC and ST rural households. Therefore, the central and state government should identify the areas where SC and ST people are living and vigorously dissemination of information regarding health and health insurance schemes.