The most important reason for the backwardness of the Scheduled Caste was poverty and untouchability. The SCs were deprived of economic rights. Being at the lowest rung of caste hierarchy, they were severely oppressed and had no means of production. So they remained poor and dependent upon others. As they could not afford proper food and adequate shelter, they suffered ill health. Most of the members were below poverty line. The problems associated with the poverty of SCs are as follows:

• Material deprivation: They were deprived of material possessions. They were not allowed to have land, house and animals. In case of natural calamities, such as drought famine and floods, they were the first to suffer. During famine they did not get any work and had to suffer from starvation.

• Indebtedness and Bonded labour: Most of them did not own land for the purpose of residence and agriculture. They lived in huts erected on the land of the master and worked as agricultural labour. Even today majority of the Scheduled Caste members are working as landless labourers. They are lowest paid workers; some of them continue to suffer as bonded labourer at the hands of the upper castes. They are exploited in the payment of wages so they have to take loans to survive. Banks do not give them loan because they have no property documents so they have to take from moneylenders and employers at a high rate of interests, so they end up becoming bonded labourers. Even today the ownership of land and business by the scheduled castes is very marginal.

• Educational Backwardness: Illiteracy is responsible for their backwardness. Due to deprivation and poor socioeconomic condition, SCs did not attend school and remained educationally weak. As most of the SCs are illiterates they are not aware of the importance of the education, and the safeguards and protection that are provided by the Constitution to ensure social justice. Most young ones discontinue their education before completion of their primary education. After independence schools have been opened for them but it has not been possible to enroll all children of SCs in schools. Nowadays the Scheduled Castes are getting educated due to various programmes such as Vayaskara shikshana samithi, Saksharatha andolana, Akshara dasoha, Mid-day meals to the schools.

• Employment and Government Service: After independence reservation in education and employment and other Constitutional benefits helped a lot to members of scheduled castes to move forward to get the higher education. Some of them have received higher education and are well placed. But they did not get proper guidance from anyone or at home, and this has adversely affected their academic achievements and attitude towards life and society.

• Agrarian Society: India is an agrarian society, where 60% of the population depend upon the agriculture directly. Employment opportunities, either in agricultural farms or those industries depending upon agricultural products, depend upon a perfect monsoon. Their employment is therefore seasonal and unpredictable. Because they cannot get job throughout the year is the main reason for their backwardness

• Health and Nutrition: Most of scheduled caste population suffer from malnutrition and protein and energy deficiency. Many of them live in unhygienic conditions due to poverty. They are often victims of various health problems because they lack proper housing, drinking water, and other basic amenities.

• Political Disabilities: The Scheduled Castes hardly participated in the political matters for centuries. Before the British rule, they had no say in politics, administration and general governance of the country. They were not allowed to hold any public post, and political rights and representation were denied to them. After the British rule, they were given the right to vote, due to the struggle of Ambedkar. After the independence through the Constitution, political opportunities and rights have been provided for Scheduled Castes, but politically they are yet to become a decisive force.