Replying to a question, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Krishan Pal Gurjar said that there is an improvement in the economic and educational status of the SCs, STs and OBCs over a period of time
As per the Population Census Data published by Registrar General of India (RGI), gap in literacy rate between total population and SCs, STs has been narrowing down, he said.
As far as SCs are concerned, he said that the gap which was 22.2 per cent in 1981 has reduced to 6.9 per cent in 2011.
In case of OBCs, the gap in literacy rate in comparison to 'Others' (Non-SC/ST/OBC) has declined from 13.5 per cent in 2004-05 to 10.5 per cent in 2009-10 as per survey results published by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), he said.
"In case of percentage of persons below poverty line, the gap between STs and 'Others' has declined from 35.2 per cent in 2004-05 to 29.8 per cent in 2011-12 for rural areas and 19.4 per cent in 2004-05 to 15.9 per cent in 2011-12 for urban areas, as per the data published by the Planning Commission," he added.