Scheduled Caste Population in Odisha: An Analysis (1961 - 2011)

Abstract

Caste occupies a vital place of prominence in the Indian Society. The Scheduled Castes who account for a sizable population i.e. 16.2% of the population of India and 17.13% in the case of Odisha during 2011 have long suffered from extreme social and economic backwardness. Odisha has 93 numbers of Scheduled Caste (SC) Communities that are inhabited in almost every district of Odisha. According to the Census 2011, the SC population in Odisha was 71.88 lakhs which has steadily risen since independence. To achieve Goal 10 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), suitable and sustainable plans and programs are being formulated and implemented for SCs who are socially and economically backward population. For the formulation of realistic and suitably planning for SCs, the disaggregated data of the SC population is required by administrators, planners, and researchers. In view of the significance, an attempt has been taken to analyze the information of SCs on their size, distribution, composition, growth, sex ratio, literacy, and workers by using Census data from 1961 to 2011 and to publish a book title 'Scheduled Caste Population in Odisha'. This book is divided into seven chapters.