Despite five to six decades of reservation policies, significant improvement in the socio-economic condition of Scheduled Castes (SCs) in India remains elusive, remarked Prof. Sukhadeo Thorat, former Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), and Professor Emeritus at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Prof. Thorat made this statement while delivering the Dr. K.M. Mathew Kurian Memorial Lecture, organised by the Inter University Centre for Social Science Research and Extension (IUCSSRE), Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU), in association with the K.R. Narayanan Chair and the K. Mathew Kurian Chair at MGU.

Prof. Thorat observed that SCs continue to face challenges, ranking high in areas such as landlessness, illiteracy, limited access to quality education, and underrepresentation in the private sector. He pointed out that disparities between SCs and higher castes persist across various development indicators.

He emphasised that the caste system still influences civil, cultural, and economic rights, restricting social mobility and limiting equal opportunities. Despite affirmative action policies, SCs often remain disadvantaged, with issues such as malnutrition and hunger continuing to affect marginalised communities.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Kannur University Dr.P K Michael Tharakan presided over the function. Prof.K.M. Seethi welcomed the gathering, and Dr. Rajesh Komath proposed the vote of thanks.