A Study on Socioeconomic Status of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Malda District of West Bengal

Scheduled groups are one of the poorest sections of society in India UNO, India . A significant share of Malda's population is scheduled population 28.81 who have lower socio economic condition. The Malda district is selected as study area. The study is based on both secondary and primary source of data. The UNDP dimension index is prepared to get spatial pattern of socio economic status of SCs and STs. An ‘in depth interview is conducted to know the causative factors for their backwardness in the district. The study reveals that only 20 percent and 6 percent of SC and ST households had pucca house compared to 23 percent overall population. For the overall population, 36 percent of houses have drinking water sources on the premises, but SCs and STs just 31 percent and 22 percent, respectively. The 62 percent of people are literate, compared to 61 percent and 47 percent for SCs and STs. There are 4 percent of households who earn more than 10,000 rupees a month, compared to 3.52 percent and 2.32 percent for SCs and STs. The socioeconomic status of SCs is reported low in Harishchandrapur II, Chanchal II while for STs it is low in Habibpur, Old Malda, Gazole, Bamangola, Harishchandrapur II, and Manikchak. The culture of despair, lack of rights awareness, and liquor consumption despite financial instability contribute to their backwardness. Poverty, social segregation, isolation, landlessness, lower income, lower job position, inefficiency in housing scheme implementation contribute to scheduled groups backwardness and deprivation in the district. Residential schools in SC ST dominated areas are essential for education. Increased scholarships, instruction in mother tongue and realistic curriculum can boost tribal student enrollment. The dropout rates must be reduced by addressing poverty and child marriage. Keeping MGNREGS transparent will ensure wage payments on time. Scheduled groups can also benefit from vocational training centers, womens self help organizations for vermicomposting. Azaz Ahamed "A Study on Socioeconomic Status of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Malda District of West Bengal" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-9 | Issue-6 , December 2025, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd99933.pdf Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/humanities-and-the-arts/geography/99933/a-study-on-socioeconomic-status-of-scheduled-castes-and-scheduled-tribes-in-malda-district-of-west-bengal/azaz-ahamed