The Scheduled Castes constitute 15.8 per cent of the population of India and 18.35 percent of the population of Tamil Nadu (1981 Census Report). Inspite of the sizable strength out of the total population they have suffered for a long time from Socio Economic backwardness. They were considered as Untouchables. Hence the Scheduled Castes have become a special concern of the nation since Independence. The Government of India made a resolve to ameliorate their sufferings. To ensure the progress of the Scheduled Castes, the Constitutional measures and Development Programmes, etc are introduced then and there by the Government. Socio-Political movements also evince interests in the Welfare of the Scheduled Castes. Therefore to know the progress of Scheduled Castes many studies are being conducted by the researchers. .The studies so far conducted about the Scheduled Castes have focused more, only on the discriminatory problems like Untouchability, Intercaste relations, etc. A few attempts only have been made to study exclusively about the changes of the Scheduled Castes. Even the studies which deal about the changes of the Scheduled Castes have not given more details of the changes that occurred in the socio - economic life of Scheduled Castes. Hence a detailed study is warranted. Suggestions are also made by Scholars to undertake further research on education, health, housing and economic development. They have also recommended to explore the impact of development programmes. The above necessities can be fulfilled by undertaking an in-depth study of the above problems. Hence this study is undertaken. The development of any Society or Community is determined by the improvement in the socio-economic condition of the people only. This improvement can be measured by comparing the present socio-economic condition with the previous level. This study has assessed the development of Scheduled Castes by- comparing the socio-economic conditions of Scheduled Castes, now and a decade ago. This study has also analysed the socio- economic conditions of the Scheduled Castes in relation to Developed village and the Less Developed village. The Government implements many programmes for the development of Scheduled Castes and others. This study has attempted to find the impact of these programmes and the benefits availed of by the Scheduled Castes and Non-Scheduled Castes, besides trying to compare the socio-economic condition of the Scheduled Castes and Non-Scheduled Castes in general.

Scheduled Castes, implements, Intercaste, backwardness, improvement, discriminatory.