The status of women belonging to Scheduled Castes are perhaps best revealed by studying the social, economic, educational, health and political conditions of these women. They are the have not's of Indian society. They deserve all attention and support from State, Community and Society. Earlier they were neglected by upper castes and their own fellows. For a long period, the social justice was based on class, religion, creed and caste. The high rate of infant mortality, child mortality and maternal deaths among Scheduled Caste Women was serious problem. Scheduled Caste Women are discriminated due to a patriarchic dominated social structure on the one hand and humiliation within them due to caste ridden social system on the other. Therefore, a proper and transparent justice was never possible.

Contents: Introduction, School Education, Government s Role, The Drop-outs, College Education, The Concessions, Societal Factors, Protection under Constitution, Conclusion.

The book is about the Scheduled Castes of Odisha and it speaks volumes in itself as it deals with the atrocities the scheduled caste people are inflicted into. Poverty, unemployment, and ostracisation have added misery into their lives and it is the responsibility of everyone to help them live a decent and honorable life. How far has the state fulfilled its constitutional obligations to assure every citizen life of dignity? What has been the pace of socio-economic progress in Odisha? Has it been fast, fair, and equitable? To what extent have the Constitutional objectives and aspirations in respect of the scheduled Castes, women, children, and the other weaker sections of the society been realized and fulfilled? The book finally raises some key issues and identifies critical areas for action that may help the state realize and fulfill its constitutional commitments. One of the key concerns for the society in rural areas of the state is that unemployed youths continue to be used by extremist groups to engage them in anti-government activities and religious riots

Scheduled castes are those castes/races, which have been or may in future be specified in a list in accordance with Article 341 of our Constitution. The people of these castes are considered outcastes and categorized as untouchables. They remain at the bottom of social hierarchy and have been socially deprived, discriminated and exploited by the upper castes since time immemorial. This is the result of our rigid caste system which divides the Indian society into upper castes and lower castes on the basis of birth. Mythologically, the people of these castes are born impure, culturally they suffer from social disabilities and occupationally they are linked with impure occupation and above all they are exclusively dependent for their survival on the higher castes of the respective villages who have tradition bound attitudes, reflected in the nomenclature, castes etc.

Study conducted at Amritsar District of Punjab State, India.