Land, Labour and Dalits in Independent India

This paper attempts to examine the changes ill the occupational distribution of workforce and their impact on economic development with special reference to Dalit (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) agricultural workers at the national level ill the post-independence period in the context of agrarian reform and agricultural growth. It also explores the linkages between incidence of poverty and extent of dependence on agriculture as landless labourers among the Dalits. The paper is divided into three parts. While the first part deals with the analysis of land, labour and poverty with special reference to Dalits at the macro level, second part presents some micro studies to understand the process of change in rural India. Third part summarises the paper and draws some conclusions.