About 80 per cent of India's total population consists of women, but the literacy rate is only 18.7 per cent, as per 1981 census. This book depicts the various patterns of women's struggle against the age-old discrimination. It covers the development of women's movement from every part of the country. Women are not only economically dependent but also politically powerless. The Indian Constitution guarantees equality of the sexes, there is much legislation concerning female employment, including equal pay provisions and maternity benefits and there is legislation reforming Hindu Law so that women have equal inheritance rights. But unfortunately, the government sponsored developmental activities have benefited only a small section of women.

In this outstanding work, the author has critically examined all the issues in areas of women and development. Thus, the volumes will be very helpful to policymakers, researchers of women studies, sociology, economic and welfare departments of the governments etc.

The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of India have remained socially, economically, educationally and politically backward since the beginning of caste stratification of Indian Society. There is a close relationship between caste and occupation. The caste system has not allowed weaker sections to shift more productive occupations. After independence, there has been a growing tempo of developmental activities for them to facilitate their mobility. The impact of change appears more striking against a backdrop of relative immobility for centuries. These factors created a definite awareness about social climbing the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

In this book an attempt has been made to improve the condition of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes through reservation facilities. Due to this spirit apart from various constitutional safeguards, a number of voluntary organizations started providing various facilities to the weaker sections of society for their proper upliftment. The Constitution of free India based upon the principles of liberty, equality fraternity and being essentially egalitarian certain fundamental rights to the citizens for free self-expression and development of personality.

The author gives valuable suggestions to improve the socio-economic conditions of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Thus, the outstanding book will be immense use to researchers, students of various disciplines and policy-makers of the country.

There are about 1000 Hindu lower castes registered as scheduled castes in India. Some of the castes number several million members each. The largest of these castes are Chamar, Bhangi, AdiDravida, Pasi, Madiga, Dusadh, Mali, Parayan, Koli, Mahar and others. Each Indian state has its own list of Scheduled Castes. One of the prime conditions for overcoming casteism in the socio-political life of India is the growth of the democratic secular movement with the participation of the Dalits and the Harijans.

Similarly, there lives a large number of aboriginal people-authochthones, who still profess their primitive religions, beliefs, life style and sociocultural mores. India has a total of 573 Scheduled Tribes spread all over the Indian mainland and in certain Islands of Andamans and Nicobar as well as Laksdweep, constitute a distinct dimension of Indian life and culture. To bring them to mainstream of national life and to uplift their miserable living conditions, Government of India made provisions to enroll these tribes as scheduled tribes, sanctioning some privileges and preferential treatment for them. In the present work attempt has been made to understand and underscore the nature of change that is taking place among the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes on the basis of recent changes in socio-economic scenario in India. It is hoped that the work will be of immense importance for Anthropologists, Sociologists and scholars of social sciences besides the policy planners and administrators.