Andhra Pradesh

DATA HIGHLIGHTS: THE SCHEDULED CASTES

Census of India 2001

The total population of Andhra Pradesh, as per the 2001 Census is 76,210,007.
Of this, 12,339,496 (16.2 per cent) are Scheduled Castes (SCs). The SC population
constitutes 7.4 per cent of the countrys SC population. The Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Act, 1976, have notified 59 SCs in Andhra
Pradesh. None of the SCs has been notified with an area restriction. Andhra Pradesh
occupies 4th position in terms of SC population among 32 states/UTs having SC
population.
2. The growth rate of SC population in the decade 1991-2001 at 16.5 per cent
has been higher if compared to the overall growth rate of the state population (14.6 per
cent) as a whole. Among the numerically major SCs, Mala have recorded the highest
growth rate of 29.7 per cent, followed by Madiga (25.5 per cent). On the other hand, Adi
Andhra caste, the fourth largest in the state have recorded a negative growth (-80.5 per
cent). Adi Dravida have also recorded a low growth rate of 4 per cent. Due to the ethnic
affinity, it is likely that a number of Adi Andhra and Adi Dravida have reported
themselves as Mala and/or Madiga, resulting in such a large differential in growth rate.

Population- Size and Distribution

3. Out of the 59 SCs, Mala, Madiga, Adi Dravida and Adi Andhra together
constitute 93.6 per cent of the SC population of the state. Madiga are numerically the
largest SCs with a population of 6,074,250, constituting 49.2 per cent of the state SC
population. They are followed by Mala having a population of 5,139,305 (41.6 per cent),
Adi Dravida with a population of 194,806 (1.6 per cent) and Adi Andhra (1.2 per cent).
Nineteen (19) SCs have returned a population below one thousand each in 2001
census.

4. As per 2001 Census, 82.5 per cent of SCs are living in the rural areas of the
state. Among the numerically major SCs, Adi Dravida has the highest (88.7 per cent)
rural population, followed by Madiga (85.1 per cent), Mala (81.9 per cent) and Adi
Andhra (76.8 per cent). Among the districts, Nellore has returned the highest (22 per
cent) SC population to its total population, while Visakhapatnam has the lowest (7.6 per
ent).

Sex ratio

5. The overall sex ratio of the SC population of Andhra Pradesh is 981 females
per 1000 males, which is higher than 978 for SC population of the state in 2001. The sex
ratio of SC population has registered an increase over 969 reported at 1991 Census.
Among the districts, the highest sex ratio (1046) is recorded in Nizamabad and the
lowest in Anantapur (956).

Page 1 of 4
Source: Office of the Registrar General, India
The Statement below shows sex ratio and child sex ratio (0-6) of the SC population at
the national, state and the numerically largest four SCs at 2001 Census:

Age All SCs All SCs (Andhra Madiga Mala Adi Dravida Adi Andhra
Groups (India) Pradesh)

All Ages 936 981 975 987 987 1003

0-6 938 973 975 969 955 976

6. As may be seen from the above statement, the overall as well as the child sex
ratio (0-6) among SC population of Andhra Pradesh are significantly higher than the
corresponding sex ratios aggregated for SC population at national level. Similar pattern
is seen in respect of all the major SCs.

Literacy and educational level

7. Literacy and level of education are two basic indicators of the level of
development achieved by a group/society. The literacy results in awareness besides
contributing to the overall improvement of health, hygiene and other social conditions.
According to 2001 Census, percentage of SC literates, (who can read and write with
understanding) aged 7 years and above is 53.5 per cent, which is lower than 60.5 per
cent reported for the state population as a whole. The literacy data show that the SC
population of the state has made a significant improvement during the decade 1991-
2001. The literacy rate, which was 31.6 per cent in 1991, has increased by 21.9
percentage points in 2001.

8. Among the major SCs, Adi Andhra have been reported the highest literacy rate
of 69.6 per cent, followed by Adi Dravida (65.4 per cent) and Mala (60 per cent). More
than half of Madigas are illiterate with literacy rate of 47.5 per cent. The female literacy
rate of 43.3 per cent among SC population is lower compared to the total females of the
state (50.4 per cent) as well their male counterparts (63.5 per cent). The highest and
lowest female literacy rate of 63 per cent and 36.9 per cent have been recorded among
Adi Andhra and Madiga.

Educational levels attained by major SCs

Name of SC Literate Below Primary Middle Matric/Secondary Technical & Graduate
without Primary /Higher Secondary Non-technical & above
educational Intermediate etc. diploma
level
All SCs 4.6 30.3 32.0 10.6 17.8 1.0 3.7
Madiga 5.1 34.3 31.7 9.8 15.7 0.7 2.7
Mala 4.2 26.9 32.2 11.3 19.6 1.2 4.6
Adi 4.7 24.6 37.3 12.7 17.5 0.8 2.4
Dravida
Adi Andhra 3.2 25.0 32.2 11.9 19.9 1.5 6.3

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Source: Office of the Registrar General, India
 9. Out of total literates, 34.9 per cent are literates having attained educational
level below the Primary level. The literates, who have attained education up to Primary
and Middle levels, constitute 32 per cent and 10.6 per cent respectively. 17.8 per cent
are having educational level up to Matric/Higher Secondary etc. levels, implying that
every 6th SC literate is a Matriculate. Literates with educational level of Graduation and
above are 3.7 per cent. Individually, Adi Andhra (6.3 per cent) have highest percentage
of Graduation and above educational levels.

10. The educational level table also shows that the drop out is conspicuous after
the Primarily level and again after Matric/Secondary levels. This pattern is consistent
among all the major SCs.

11. Population in the age group 5-14 years are the potential students. 72.8 per
cent of the SC children of Andhra Pradesh in this age group have been attending various
educational institutions. At the individual caste level, Adi Dravida, Adi Andhra and Mala
have more percentage of school going children than the overall state SC population.

Economic activity
Work Participation Rate (WPR)

12. The work participation rate (WPR) is the percentage of workers to the total
population. The WPR of the SC population is 50.5 per cent at 2001 Census, which is
higher than 45.8 per cent recorded for state population as a whole. The WPR of SC
population however, has declined marginally as compared to 51.8 per cent reported at
1991 Census. The male WPR has been 54.4 per cent and female WPR 45.6 per cent at
2001 Census.

13. At individual caste level, the WPR varies from the highest 52.2 per cent
among Madiga to the lowest 45.9 per cent among Adi Andhra. Adi Andhra have also
recorded the lowest female WPR of 36.5 per cent.

Category of Workers

14. There has been a decline in the SC main workers from 95.6 per cent at 1991
Census to 79.2 per cent at 2001 Census. This, in turn, has resulted in corresponding
increase in the marginal workers from 4.4 per cent in 1991 to 20.8 per cent in 2001. Out
of total workers, agricultural labourers constitute 68.3 per cent, which is higher than
22.7 percentage points when compared to 45.6 per cent registered for SC population at
the national level. Other workers account for 20.1 per cent and only 9.7 per cent has
been returned as cultivators. Remaining 1.9 per cent are workers in the household
industry.

15. At the individual caste level, Adi Dravida have recorded the highest 72.7 per
cent agricultural labourers, followed by Adi Andhra (71.4 per cent), Madiga (70.4 per
cent) and Mala (68 per cent).

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Source: Office of the Registrar General, India
Marital status

16. Marital status is one of the important determinants of fertility and growth of a
population. The 2001 Census data on marital status show that 46.6 per cent persons
among the SCs of Andhra Pradesh are never married. The currently married constitute
47.7 per cent while 5.1 per cent are widowed. Only 0.6 per cent are divorced and
separated.

17. Though a majority of girls and boys among SCs in Andhra Pradesh are
getting married after attaining the legal age of marriage, the marriages of SC girls below
18 years (3 per cent) are higher than 2.8 per cent recorded among SC population at the
national level. The incidences of marriage among boys below 21 years at 2.6 per cent
are; however, lower than 3.1 per cent aggregated at the national level for SC population.

18. The mean number of children ever born per ever married SC women of all
ages as well as 45-49 years age group are 2.6 and 3.4 respectively, which are lower
than the corresponding figures of 3.2 and 4.2 for SC population at the national level.

Religion
19. Out of the 12,339,496 SC population of Andhra Pradesh, 26,507 are
Buddhists, 1178 are Sikhs, and the remaining are Hindus, as per 2001 Census.

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Source: Office of the Registrar General, India