There are two patterns of social mobility among the SC: (a) welfare measures have induced a certain level of mobility among some selected sections of the SC, and (b) a certain level of awareness about their own low status has emerged along with an anti-upper caste attitude.

One serious consequence of the first pattern is the creation of unevenness in economic and social terms between different SC groups and among members of the same SC group. The benefits of the constitutional provisions and other changes have not reached different scheduled caste groups and individuals uniformly.

As a result of the second pattern, ‘caste war’ or hostility of the SC against the upper castes has also increased.