Scheduled Tribe Status and Competition for Public Sector Jobs: A Study in Kalimpong Area in Darjeeling

Abstract

Government job plays an important role in empowering different communities particularly the Scheduled Tribe communities in their socio-economic fields. The Constitution of India through its various provisions [Article 15(A), 16(A) etc.] has reserved jobs for Scheduled Tribe Communities in various Central and State government institutions and concerns. Members of Scheduled Tribe communities are open to avail of the opportunities created by reservation in the job market. But it has been observed that even after more than six decades of the policy of reservation being in force all communities under ST category are not equally availing of the benefits of reservation because of their differential social and economic standing. The socio-economic background, outlook, educational status, location of residence, religious faiths etc. restrict different ST communities from attaining the Constitutional provisions uniformly. The already better off sections among the ST communities are in advantageous position as they attain more benefits compared to the ST communities that are economically and educationally worse off. The growth of population and inclusion of new communities under ST category have intensified the competition and widened inequality. The present paper attempts to find the status of major ST communities of Darjeeling in availing the public sector jobs. The empowerment of women among the different ST communities in specific and in proportion to the total female employees has also been investigated. Religion is seen to play an important role in attainment of education and therefore jobs. The present paper attempts to investigate the relation between education and employment among the different ST groups of the region.