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4.237 Similarly in the case of Scheduled Tribes, households in Kerala have much greater access to SOCIAL SERVICE
banking services, television, computer with internet, land line and car than an average Scheduled
Tribe household in India (Appendix 4.87). Compared to other southern states, only Scheduled Tribe
households in Tamil Nadu has greater access to televisions, computer with internet, landline phones
and car than Kerala. Scheduled Tribe households in Kerala do not seem to have as much access
to two wheelers as other Scheduled Tribe households in India. While more than 37 per cent of
Scheduled Tribe households in India did not have access to any of these assets, Kerala performed
better with only around 24 per cent of Scheduled Tribe household being deprived of these assets.
Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe households in Kerala have a better standard of living than
their counterparts in the rest of the country in general. However Tamil Nadu has shown an even
better standard of living for Scheduled Tribe households than Kerala.

Occupational Pattern

4.238 Decadal growth rate of Kerala’s population 2011 Population Census was all time low of 4.9
per cent. The work participation rate shows an increasing trend during the decade (2001-11). The
proportion of main workers is more than that of marginal workers in all cases. Especially the female
main workers have considerably increased from 19.90 per cent in 2001 to 22.71 per cent in 2011
in the case of ST population. In respect of SCs same has increased from 18.51 per cent to 19.59
per cent during this period. The percentage of main workers engaged in household industry shows
a decreasing trend. The category of main workers shows that 29.90 per cent of SCs and 59.49 per
cent of STs are doing agricultural labour where as in the case of general population it is only 14.18
per cent. Details of occupational pattern is shown in Appendix 4.88

4.239 In Kerala, as per Rule 14(a) of the Kerala State and Subordinate Service Rules 1958, 10%
representation (8% for SCs/STs, 2% for STs only) is reserved to Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes
in Gazatted, Non-Gazatted and Last Grade Categories in Government Departments. The Scheduled
Castes have already got a benefit of more than 8% reservation in all the three categories. But in the
case of Scheduled Tribes candidates it can be said that they are nearing the required 2% reservation
in State service on a faster pace than previous years. As per the Annual review as on 1.1.2014, the
total representation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in public service is 16.19%. Details
of representation of SC/ST employees in Government service is given in Appendix 4.89.

Development Programmes for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes

4.240 Kerala Government earmarks fund for SCP from State Plan outlay in proportion to the
percentage population of Scheduled Caste and allocate fund for TSP more than that of ST population
percentage. A two pronged strategy is followed for the development of SC/ST in the State. One is that
the assistance provided through the LSGs and the other through SC/ST Development Department.
Out of the total SCP/TSP Plan outlay, a certain percentage of funds are allocated to Local Self
Government Institutions for implementation of schemes under Decentralized Planning and the
remaining to the SC/ST Development Department. A portion of the fund was considered as Notional
Flow to other departments till 2008-09. This was meant for implementing schemes exclusively for SC/
ST population in the respective sectors. As this experiment was not found successful, the concept
of Notional Flow was dispensed with from the Annual Plan 2009-10. A system of earmarking certain
amount of SCP/TSP as pooled fund under SCP and TSP for taking up schemes adopting a project
approach was introduced. This gives scope to get wide range of schemes with varied objectives and
physical targets, which put together, will help the all round development of the targeted groups. The
total plan provision set apart for the development of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes during
2014-15 is ` 1962 crore and ` 600.00 crore respectively. Year-wise details from 2010-11 onwards
are given in Appendix 4.90

Economic Review 2014