AN ANALYSIS OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF SCHEDULED CASTES: A STUDY OF BORDER AREAS OF JAMMU DISTRICT

The aim of the paper is to highlight the socio-economic status of the scheduled castes residingin border areas of the Jammu district. Among the various socially deprived classes, scheduled castessuffer from the dual disabilities of severe economic exploitation and social discrimination while theyconstitute near about 16 per cent of the total population in the country and about 7.37 per cent in the stateof J&K