Socio-Economic and Health Status of Scheduled Caste Agricultural Labourers: A Case Study of a Selected Village in Telangana

Kadamandla Narsaiah; Merja Anil

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.72419

Socio-Economic and Health Status of Scheduled Caste Agricultural Labourers: A Case Study of a Selected Village in Telangana

Author(s)	Dr. Kadamandla Narsaiah, Dr. Merja Anil
Country	India
Abstract	Agricultural labourers constitute one of the most marginalized and vulnerable sections of rural society in India. Historically, the agrarian structure has been strongly influenced by the caste system, which determined access to land and other productive resources. In many rural areas, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, forward caste groups traditionally controlled the majority of agricultural land, while Scheduled Castes remained largely landless and dependent on wage labour for their livelihood. Although several land reform measures and redistribution policies were introduced during the 1980s under the leadership of state governments to address these inequalities, a significant proportion of Scheduled Caste communities still lack ownership of agricultural land and continue to work as agricultural labourers. In earlier periods, exploitative labour systems such as bonded labour and the Paleru system were prevalent in rural society, tying labourers to landlords through debt and social obligations. While these systems have formally declined, their exploitative nature continues to exist in different forms, including low wages, irregular employment, and social discrimination. Agricultural labourers often work under harsh conditions, performing physically demanding tasks for long hours with minimal compensation and limited social protection. These working conditions also have serious implications for the health and well-being of agricultural labourers. Due to continuous physical labour, exposure to chemicals, and lack of access to adequate healthcare facilities, many workers experience various health problems such as muscular pain, respiratory issues, and other occupational health hazards. Poverty and lack of awareness further contribute to the neglect of health among these workers. Against this background, the present study examines the socio-economic status of agricultural labourers belonging to Scheduled Castes and analyses the major problems and challenges they face in their livelihoods.
Keywords	Agricultural Labourers, Scheduled Castes, Landlessness, Rural Inequality, Labour Exploitation, Agrarian Structure, Rural Livelihoods, Social Discrimination and etc.
Field	Sociology
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-03-30
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.72419

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Socio-Economic and Health Status of Scheduled Caste Agricultural Labourers: A Case Study of a Selected Village in Telangana

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