Abstract
Occupational mobility actually modifies the real labour income and in turn changes the socio-economic profile of an individual or a family. The occupational mobility may act as a catalyst in case of Scheduled Caste upliftment because they are subjugated since time immemorial. They are still engaged in low-ranked fixed occupations. If they are able to show upward occupational mobility, then their social and economic status will surely improve. But such studies on the occupational mobility of Scheduled Caste population are meagre. Thus in the present work an attempt is made to study occupational mobility and immobility of the Scheduled Caste population. Regional analysis of occupational mobility is necessary for rational planning and legitimate minimization of regional disparities to foster a healthy and balanced development. The historical social exclusion has had a long-run effect, and its inertia is visible from the collected information as a Scheduled Caste cook in the primary school of the Pachambha village is still working as a sweeper in the school. The Chamar family is in the position to open a tea stall in the village but cannot do so because of the historical inertia of untouchability. The study also shows that the Chamar family of Pachambha village has upgraded their occupation significantly. They are more involved in the skin shearing of animals but not working as cultivators or holding their own shop or involved in a clerical job. But Balmikis and Doms1 of the selected village show considerable rigidity in occupational choice as Balmikis are mostly working as sweepers and Doms are mostly working as labourers or as soop makers2 though they can shift to the agricultural and allied activities by purchasing land from the money earned by the out-migrated sweepers and soldiers of the Indian Army.
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