RESERVATION FOR SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES IN WEST BENGAL: MYTH AND REALITY

The rigidity of caste system in Bengal took place in the medieval period between 1200 and 1500. West Bengal is unique in its societal structure. Here caste plays a decisive role in social, political, economic and cultural affairs of human life. Asymmetrical development is also seen in West Bengal like the whole of India. There are lot of people, whose socio - economic conditions is very advanced. But in the other hand, most are poor, exploited and deprived. Most of the people are agricultural labourers, sharecroppers and marginal peasants. They are called Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people of our society. The framers of Indian constitution were very conscious about this. They created many safeguards for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people. The First Backward Classes Commission was appointed on January 29, 1953 under the chairmanship of Kaka Kalelkar. There are many reservation provisions for them in the Indian constitution under articles -15,16,17,41,330,332,341 and 342.But the West Bengal's Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe are not receiving the benefits of overall development process. In our state, they are lagging far behind from the upper caste people in politics, education and government service. According to Census 2011, the overall literacy rate of Scheduled Caste in India is 66.1% ,which is lower than the national average of literary rate of overall population (74%). In West Bengal there are 60 Scheduled Caste communities, their total population is 2,14,63,270. Which is comprise 23.5% of its total population (Census 2011). But Scheduled Tribe population is 52,96 963 as per Census 2011. Which is about 5.8% of the total population of West Bengal. Overall literacy rate of Scheduled Caste is 69.4% and Scheduled Tribe is 57.92%, which are lower than of overall literacy rate (77.1%) according to 2011 Census. Their Participation in government service is very low. However, the development of socio-economic conditions of this class of people of West Bengal has not been as expected. Despite the passing of the 75th years of independence, the socio-economic status of the class of people is far behind from upper caste people of West Bengal.