Scheduled castes perform unclean occupations such as:

• carrying human waste,

• sweeping,

• scavenging,

• oil grinding,

• spinning,

• tanning,

• shoemaking,

• leather works,

• carrying dead animals.

Although untouchability has been made illegal now , historically it has been practiced in Hindu Society .On account of the practice of untouchability, the scheduled castes had to suffer from the following types of disabilities.

• They were not allowed to use public places and avail of civic facilities such as village wells, ponds, temples, hotels, schools, hospitals, dharma shalas and choultries.

• They were forced to live on the outskirts of the towns and villages during the early days. Now a day also they are segregated from other spatially.

• They were allowed to work as labourers during construction or repair, storing grains, etc., but later the houses were purified by sprinkling cow urine or cow dung.

• They were not allowed to carry umbrellas, wear shoes or golden ornaments or to milk cows

• They were denied the services of barbers washermen and tailors.

• They were not only kept at a distance but also denied various civic facilities. They were not allowed to enter the houses of members of upper caste.

The scheduled castes are subjected to atrocities when they resist and demand their social, economic or political rights. The atrocities they face are many; their houses are burnt, their domesticated animals are snatched away and women are subjected to humiliation. They are beaten mercilessly. They are also murdered and lynched.

To overcome the historical discrimination and the problems of scheduled castes, India has taken several steps to prohibit the practice of untouchability and to eradicate poverty.

These steps are:

• Constitutional provisions,

• guarantees,

• legislative enactments and

• Policy measures.

Despite the constitutional provisions and modern democracy, the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes of India are still struggling hard for survival and for the social justice.