Distribution of landholdings among schedule caste and schedule tribes in the state of Andhra Pradesh

This paper examines the distribution of landholding in general and schedule and schedule tribes in particular in the state of Andhra Pradesh.  Data was collected from statistical abstracts, various issues of Report on SC and ST Land Holdings, Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES), Hyderabad and agriculture census in India and NSSO Report. The present study shows that even after 60 years of planned initiatives and policy measures, there have not been substantial improvement in the landholding status of scheduled groups in the state of Andhra Pradesh, it has declined further. Finally, the study finds that the average size of area of each landholding for scheduled caste decline from 1.19 hectares to 0.41 registered during the same period, for the marginal holdings it showed same trend in this period, for the small holdings it declined from 1.45 to .38, form semi-medium landholder it declined from 2.69 to 2.51, for medium landholders it declined from 6.21 to 5.36, for large landholder it declined from 15.62 to 14.76. On the other hand, scheduled tribes, during same period also shows the similar situation in the state of Andhra Pradesh.