Quality of Life of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Kerala: A Statistical Index Analysis with Special Reference to Kaniyambetta Grama Panchayath in Wayanad District.

The Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India have historically experienced social exclusion, economic deprivation, and educational backwardness. Although Kerala is widely recognized for its achievements in social development, significant disparities continue to exist among marginalized communities. This study examines the quality of life of SC/ST communities in Kaniyambetta Grama Panchayath in Wayanad district, Kerala. The study utilizes both primary and secondary data collected from 80 respondents, including 40 individuals from SC/ST communities and 40 from the general population. A self-constructed Quality of Life Index (QLI) was developed using indicators such as Standard of Living Index, Consumption Expenditure Index, Financial Constraint Index, Health Index, Educational Attainment Index, Occupational Index, Political Empowerment Index, and Other Measurement Index. The findings reveal that the general population possesses a comparatively better quality of life than SC/ST communities. However, SC/ST communities demonstrate relatively strong political empowerment. The study concludes that despite Kerala’s developmental achievements, socio-economic inequalities continue to persist among marginalized groups, requiring targeted policy interventions.