Scheduled Castes in Punjab

Before 1857, even though Dalits served as leather workers, sweepers and scavengers, butchers and performed menial duties in the British cantonments and under the British army, they were not recruited as soldiers. But after the 1857 war of independence, this began to change. Due to the shortage of soldiers from the so-called 'upper castes', British began to recruit Dalits as soldiers. They raised a regiment of Mazhabis and Ramdasias in Punjab. After some training, they sent them to fight against rebel soldiers in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. They had also raised Dalit regiments (Mehtar Regiment) in Hindi speaking areas, which were disbanded after the war, but the Mazhabi-Ramdasia regiment was allowed to continue.{{Cite web |date=2019-08-26 |title=A Short History Of Untouchables In Indian Army And Role Of Dr. Ambedkar{{!}} Countercurrents |url=https://countercurrents.org/2019/08/a-short-history-of-untouchables-in-indian-army-and-role-of-dr-ambedkar/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=countercurrents.org |language=en-US}}

In 1900, Punjab Land Alienation Act was passed, which had the unintended consequence of depriving Dalits the right to own land, because they were officially not considered an 'agricultural caste' by the British government.'Ravidass, Dera Sachkhand Ballan and the Question

of Dalit Identity in Punjab', by

Ronki Ram,

Panjab University, Chandigarh, Page 2, Paragraph 4, Line 7, https://punjab.global.ucsb.edu/sites/secure.lsit.ucsb.edu.gisp.d7_sp/files/sitefiles/journals/volume16/no1/1-Ronki%20Ram16.1.pdf

In June 1926, Ad-Dharm movement was launched by Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia for the upliftment of the Dalits of Punjab.{{Cite web |last=राम |first=Ronki Ram रौनकी |date=2021-06-12 |title=Punjab's Ad Dharm movement – which turned Untouchables into proud Mulnivasis |url=https://www.forwardpress.in/2021/06/punjabs-ad-dharm-movement-which-turned-untouchables-into-proud-mulnivasis/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Forward Press |language=en-US}} Ad-Dharam movement's aim was to create a separate religion and identity for the Dalits. The first meeting of the movement was held on 11–12 June 1926 in Hoshiarpur.

The movement also created its political organization, called Ad-Dharam Mandal, to fulfill its political ideas. It contested the 1937 elections and won one seat. It was successful in spreading awareness and assertion among Dalits. They also contested 1945-46 elections in alliance with Unionist Party, in which Mangoo Ram got elected. To bring consciousness in the Dalit community, they also started newspapers like Adi Danka and Ujjala.

In 1957, Pakistan officially recognized forty non-Muslim groups as being scheduled castes.{{Cite book |url=https://molaw.gov.pk/SiteImage/Misc/files/Collections/1957.pdf |title=The Scheduled Castes (Declaration) Ordinance, 1957. Ordinance No. XVI of 1957 (GPPK – L 193 Law – 11-2-58 – 700) |date=12 November 1957 |publisher=Government of Pakistan |others=Speaker: Abdul Wahab Khan (exercising the functions of the President under Article 36 of the Constitution)}} However, in Pakistan the castes listed as scheduled castes are necessarily read as being Hindu-only, despite the existence of Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians in Pakistan.{{Cite news |last=Patel |first=Shaista Abdul Aziz |date=15 December 2020 |title=It is time to talk about caste in Pakistan and Pakistani diaspora |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2020/12/15/it-is-time-to-talk-about-caste-in-pakistan-and-pakistani-diaspora |access-date=15 March 2025 |work=Al-Jazeera}} This is due to the prevailing belief in Pakistan that there are no caste-hierarchies being observed amongst Muslims and that Dalits exist in India, not Pakistan. Meanwhile, many Dalits reject the Hindu label and prefer to classify themselves as being members of "indigenous cultures and traditions". The majority of Dalits in Pakistan are Christian. There is no reliable caste-census available for Pakistan. Despite the Dalits of Pakistan being allotted a six-percent reservation in government jobs in 1948, this was never put into action and the requirement was dropped in the 1990's.

Whilst modern Punjab does not list any groups under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) designation, during British-rule the Sansis, Bazigars, and Bouria were categorized as Scheduled Tribes in Punjab.{{Cite book |title=Caste Matters in Public Policy: Issues and Perspectives |date=Aug 19, 2022 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |others=Rahul Choragudi, Sony Pellissery, N. Jayaram |isbn=9781000631975 |chapter=Part III: Caste Beyond Hinduism - The Sikh castes at present |quote=}} After independence, the former three ST groups of Punjab were re-categorized as SCs.

In 2001, thirty-seven community-groups were designated as SCs in the Punjab, with two more, the Mahatam/Rai Sikhs and the Mochi, being added to the SC list prior to the 2011 census. There are currently thirty-nine groups listed as SCs and sixty-eight listed as OBCs in Punjab, India, with no groups being listed as STs.{{Cite web |date=20 April 2017 |title=Notified Scheduled Castes List of Punjab State |url=https://pbscfc.punjab.gov.in/?q=node/21 |access-date=24 January 2025 |website=Punjab Scheduled Castes Land Development & Finance Corporation}}{{Cite web |date=3 March 2014 |title=Central List of OBCs for the State of Punjab |url=https://ncbc.nic.in/Writereaddata/cl/punjab.pdf |access-date=1 February 2025 |website=National Commission for Backward Classes |pages=1–3}}{{Cite book |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/1006/download/3038/DH_2011_0308_PART_A_DCHB_MOGA.pdf |title=Census of India 2011 - Punjab - Series 04 - Part XII A - District Census Handbook, Moga |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Punjab |year=2014 |pages=18}}

On 21 September 2021, Charanjit Singh Channi became the first person from Dalit community to become the Chief Minister of Punjab. He was appointed as a chief minister by Congress Party after the resignation of Captain Amarinder Singh. He ruled for about 6 months before expiry of his term.{{Cite web |last=Bhardwaj |first=Bipin |date=2021-09-19 |title=Charanjit Singh Channi to be next Punjab Chief Minister |url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/charanjit-singh-channi-to-be-next-punjab-chief-minister |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=National Herald |language=en}}

According to a 2011 district census handbook, there were thirty-nine groups classified as Scheduled Castes (SCs) in the Punjab state of India:{{Efn|There are no Scheduled Tribes (STs) notified in the Punjab State of India.|group=note}}

1. Ad Dharmi
2. Chuhra, Balmiki, Bhangi
3. Bangali
4. Barar, Burar, Berar
5. Batwal, Barwala
6. Bauria, Bawaria
7. Bazigar
8. Bhanjra
9. Chamar, Jatia Chamar, Rehgar, Raigar, Ramdasi, Ravidasi, Ramdasia, Ramdasia Sikh, Ravidasia, Ravidasia Sikh
10. Chanal
11. Dagi
12. Darain
13. Deha, Dhaya, Dhea
14. Dhanak
15. Dhogri, Dhangri, Siggi
16. Dumna, Mahasha, Doom
17. Gagra
18. Gandhila, Gandil Gondola
19. Kabirpanthi, Julaha
20. Khatik
21. Kori, Koli
22. Marija, Marecha
23. Mazhabi, Mazhabi Sikh
24. Megh
25. Nat
26. Od
27. Pasi
28. Perna
29. Pherera
30. Sanhai
31. Sanhal
32. Sansi, Bhedkut, Manesh
33. Sansoi
34. Sapela
35. Sarera
36. Sikligar
37. Sirkiband
38. Mochi
39. Mahatam, Rai Sikh

Forty non-Muslim groups are classified as Scheduled Castes in Pakistan through Ordinance 1957 ordinance No. XVI of 1957, namely the following:{{Efn|Ordinance 1957 ordinance No. XVI of 1957 of Pakistan applies to all the territory of West Pakistan and the Federal Capital, which would include the province of Punjab, Pakistan.|group=note}}

1. Ad Dharmi
2. Bangali
3. Barar
4. Bawaria
5. Bazigar
6. Bhangi
7. Bhanjra
8. Bhil
9. Chamar
10. Chanal
11. Charan
12. Chuhra, or Balmiki
13. Dagi and Koli
14. Dhanak
15. Dhed
16. Dumna
17. Gagra
18. Gandhila
19. Halal-Khor
20. Jatia
21. Kalal
22. Khatik
23. Kolhi
24. Kori
25. Kuchria
26. Marija, or Marecha
27. Megh
28. Menghwar
29. Nat
30. Od
31. Pasi
32. Perna
33. Ramdasi
34. Sansi
35. Sapela
36. Sarera
37. Shikari
38. Sirkiband
39. Sochi
40. Wagri

As of September 2020, the caste population data foreach Forward caste citizen in Punjab collected in Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011 has not been released to public by Government of India.{{cite web | title=Raw caste data collected in 2011 given to social justice ministry, govt tells Rajya Sabha | website=ThePrint | date=2020-09-16 | url=https://theprint.in/india/raw-caste-data-collected-in-2011-given-to-social-justice-ministry-govt-tells-rajya-sabha/503770/ | access-date=2020-09-27}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/caste-census-2011-not-yet-released/article24273716.ece|title='Caste Census-2011 not yet released'|date=2018-06-27|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-07-30|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}} Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes form 63.2% of the total population of Punjab, India.{{cite web | last=Ganesan | first=Rajeshwari | title=Eye on AAP? Congress bets big on Dalit Sikhs, bid to please Jats too | website=Times Now | date=2021-09-20 | url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/eye-on-aap-congress-bets-big-on-dalit-sikhs-bid-to-please-jats-too/814499 | access-date=2021-11-14}}

{{Pie chart

|thumb = right

|caption=Castes of Punjab (2011)

|label1 = Scheduled Castes (Dalits)

|value1 = 31.9

|color1 = Blue

|label2 = Upper castes (UC)

|value2 = 33

|color2 = Green

|label3 = Other Backward Classes (OBC or BC)

|value3 = 31.3

|color3 = Orange

|label4 = religious minorities

|value4 = 3.8

|color4 = Red

}}

According to the 2011 census, 73.3% SC population predominantly lives in rural areas and 26.6% in urban areas of Punjab. In the state, 60.8% SCs follow Sikhism, 38.8% Hinduism and 0.3% Buddhism.'Reduce Inequalities: Dalits in Punjab

Seek Development with Dignity', by Sanjeev Kumar, Sage Publications, 2018, Contemporary Voice of Dalit,

10(1) 114–125, Page 114, Paragraph 1, https://drupal.alliance.edu.in/drupal/sites/default/files/2021-06/Reduce%20Inequalities-%20Dalits%20in%20Punjab%20Seek%20Development%20with%20Dignity.pdf

Below is the list of districts according to the percentage of their SC population, according to 2011 census.[https://punjab.data.gov.in/resource/district-wise-no-scheduled-castes-total-population-1971-2011 Scheduled castes population 1971–2011] punjab.data.gov.in {{dead link|date=April 2024}}[https://punjab.data.gov.in/resource/district-wise-no-scheduled-castes-female-population-1971-2011 Scheduled castes female population 1971–2011] punjab.data.gov.in {{dead link|date=April 2024}}

Scheduled caste (SC) population among different religions in Punjab - Census 2011{{cite web |title=SC-14: Scheduled caste population by religious community, Punjab - 2011 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/2108 |publisher=Office of the Registrar General India |access-date=3 February 2024}}

There are more than 35 designated scheduled castes in Punjab. Of these, the five largest form 87% of the total SC population. Mazhabis constitute 31.5% of the SC population, Ravidasias/Ramdasias 26.2%, Ad-Dharmis 15% and Valmikis 11%."Understanding the Dalit demography of Punjab, caste by caste"- India Today, by Harmeet Shah Singh,

New Delhi, Updated: Feb 18, 2022

As per National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4, 2015–16), the

infant mortality rate was 40 per 1000 live births before the age of one year for scheduled castes, compared to 29 per 1000 births for the state as a whole. The infant mortality rate for other backward castes (OBC) was 21 per 1000 live births and 22 per 1000 for those who are not from SC and OBC classes.{{cite web|url=https://finance.punjab.gov.in/uploads/05Jul2022/52e95928-fcf0-4ac0-b1d3-f24c151c371f_20220705153029.pdf|title=Scheduled Casts Subplan 2022-23|website=punjab.gov.in|access-date=10 April 2024}}

Although the prevalence of anaemia (low levels of haemoglobin in the blood) has been found quite high among all

population groups in Punjab, it was still higher among the SC population than other groups. For the women between the ages of 15 and 49 years, the prevalence of anaemia among SC women was 56.9%, compared to 53.5% for the state as a whole. Among the children between the ages of 6 and 59 months, the rate of anaemia for SC children was 60%, compared to 56.9% for the state as a whole.

The table below compares the health status of Scheduled Caste population of Punjab, according to NFHS-3.

The table below shows the early childhood mortality rates in Punjab by caste, according to NFHS-4 (2015–16).

According to the 2011 census, the literacy rate among Scheduled Castes in Punjab was 64.81%, compared to 75.84% for the whole state. The SC literacy rate of females was 58.39% and 70.66% for male SCs.'Scheduled Caste Population in Punjab'-Department of Social Justice & Empowerment and Minorities, Government of Punjab, http://103.118.160.46/Static/SCPopulation.html#:~:text=The%20female%20literacy%20rate%20of,of%2080.44%25%20in%20the%20State.

The table below shows the Scheduled castes literacy rate in Punjab through the years.

The table below gives the literacy rate of Scheduled castes by district, according to the 2011 census.{{Cite web|url=https://data.gov.in/|title=Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India|date=21 January 2022|website=data.gov.in}}{{Cite web |title=District-wise percentage Literacy of Scheduled Castes (Male) from 1971 to 2011 {{!}} Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India |url=https://punjab.data.gov.in/resource/district-wise-percentage-literacy-scheduled-castes-male-1971-2011 |access-date=2 September 2023 |website=punjab.data.gov.in|date=21 January 2022 }}{{Cite web |title=District-wise percentage Literacy of Scheduled Castes (Female) from 1971 to 2011 {{!}} Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India |url=https://punjab.data.gov.in/resource/district-wise-percentage-literacy-scheduled-castes-female-1971-2011 |access-date=2 September 2023 |website=punjab.data.gov.in|date=21 January 2022 }}{{Cite web |title=District-wise no. of Literate Scheduled Castes (Total) Population from 1971 to 2011 {{!}} Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India |url=https://punjab.data.gov.in/resource/district-wise-no-literate-scheduled-castes-total-population-1971-2011 |access-date=2 September 2023 |website=punjab.data.gov.in|date=21 January 2022 }}

The table below shows the Scheduled Castes literacy rate of districts of Punjab by gender, as of 2011 census.

As of 2023, out of the 117 legislative assembly constituencies in Punjab, 34 are reserved for Scheduled Castes.Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Elections, Lok Sabha Bye Election 2023, Vidhan Sabha, https://www.ceopunjab.gov.in/election#:~:text=In%20the%20State%20of%20Punjab%2C%20there%20are%20117%20Assembly%20Constituencies,Constituencies%20are%20reserved%20for%20SC.

The poverty rate of SCs in Punjab was 15.6% in 2011–12, compared to the 8.2% for the whole state. The SC rate of 2011-12 declined from 38.2% in 1993–94, at the rate of 3.1%. Dalits comprise 62.3% of the total number of people living Below Poverty Line (BPL) in Punjab, India.'Reduce Inequalities: Dalits in Punjab

Seek Development with Dignity'- SAGE Publications, by Sanjeev Kumar, 2018, Page 115, 116, https://drupal.alliance.edu.in/drupal/sites/default/files/2021-06/Reduce%20Inequalities-%20Dalits%20in%20Punjab%20Seek%20Development%20with%20Dignity.pdf

Despite comprising 31.94% of the Punjab's population, Dalits own only 3.5% of its total land. About 73.33% of the Dalit population lives in villages and is largely landless and faces housing shortages.'DTE Exclusive: ‘Shamlat’ lands hold key to Dalit empowerment; alleviation of rural poverty in Punjab'- Down To Earth, By Dilraj Singh and Bhagirath, Published: Wednesday 11 January 2023, https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/governance/dte-exclusive-shamlat-lands-hold-key-to-dalit-empowerment-alleviation-of-rural-poverty-in-punjab-87081 According to the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1964, 33% of the village commons land (shamlaat) is reserved for the Dalits. But in many cases, they have been denied these rights by big landlords with fraudulent means.'Punjab Assembly Elections 2022: Dalit votes matter, but what about their issues'- Down To Earth, By Pampa Mukherjee, Published: Monday 31 January 2022, Dalit issues, https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/punjab-assembly-elections-2022-dalit-votes-matter-but-what-about-their-issues-81326

In 2019, 166 crimes against Dalits were reported in Punjab, India. This amounted to the rate of 1.9 crimes per 1 Lakh of the Dalit population in the state. This rate was lower than the 22.8 per 1 Lakh Dalit population for the country as a whole.'Nine states have 54% of Dalits, see 84% of crime against SCs' - The Times Of India, Updated: Oct 2, 2020, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/nine-states-have-54-of-dalits-see-84-of-crime-against-scs/articleshow/78439021.cms

In March 2023, a 26 year old Dalit female doctor doing her internship at an SGPC-run Medical college in Amritsar died by suicide after allegedly being subjected to caste discrimination and abuse. About 10 people, including 2 and 4 students of Sri Guru Ram Dass Institute of Medical Science and Research at Vallah, were later booked by police under charges of abetment to suicide and under provisions of SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. According to the victim's mother, the accused allegedly used to make casteist slurs on her and would also used to threaten her that they will not let her complete her MBBS degree. The mother also alleged that they had complained about it to the principal but nothing was done."Woman doctor at SGPC-run SGRDMR Medical College in Amritsar dies by suicide" - The Tribune, by PK Jaiswar, Amritsar, Updated At: Mar 10, 2023, https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/woman-doctor-at-sgpc-run-sgrdmr-medical-college-in-amritsar-dies-by-suicide-486774"Dalit Woman Doctor Dies By Suicide in Punjab, Kin Allege Caste Discrimination" - The Quint, Published: 11 Mar 2023, https://www.thequint.com/news/education/dalit-woman-doctor-dies-by-suicide-in-punjab-kin-allege-caste-discrimination

The table below shows the number of recorded crimes against scheduled caste and scheduled tribe people from 2010 to 2018.'Role of Ad-Dharm Movement in Dalits’ Lives and Its

Relevance in Present Times', by Prof. Navjot and Dr. Deepti, Quest Journals,

Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Science,

Volume 10 ~ Issue 7 (2022) pp: 266-270, https://www.questjournals.org/jrhss/papers/vol10-issue7/Ser-2/1007266270.pdf

• Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
• Dalit
• Ravidassia
• Ramdasia
• Sikh Light Infantry
• Mazhabi Sikh
• Caste system in India
• Demographics of Punjab, India
• Sikhism and caste

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Category:Caste system in India