(a) whether the social and economic condition of Scheduled Castes in the country varies from
State to State;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether it is a fact that Scheduled Castes in Tamil Nadu are far better off than forward castes
in Jharkhand; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)
(a): Yes, Sir.
(b): The State-Wise details regarding population below the poverty line, literacy and gross enrolment ratio of higher education pertaining to Scheduled Castes are enclosed in Annexure A, B & C respectively.
(c): The position of ‘Scheduled Castes’ of Tamil Nadu is better than the ‘Others’ (Non SCs/STs) of Jharkhand in terms of literacy rate and Gross Enrolment Ratio for higher education.
(d): The literacy rate for ‘Scheduled Castes’ was 73.3% in Tamil Nadu and the same was 66.4% for ‘All categories’ in case of Jharkhand as per Census 2011. The Gross Enrolment Ratio for ‘Scheduled Castes’ was 29.9% in case of Tamil Nadu and the same was 10.1% for ‘All categories’ for Jharkhand during 2012-13.
However, the Scheduled Castes population below the poverty line in rural area of Tamil Nadu was 31.2% whereas the same was 37.1% for ‘Others’ (Non SCs/STs/OBCs) in Jharkhand. In case of urban areas, Scheduled Castes population below poverty line was much higher 40.2% in Tamil Nadu compared to 9.2% in Jharkhand for ‘Others’((Non SCs/STs/OBCs) as per the estimates of poverty release by the Planning Commission in 2004-05.