Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Development Department (Kerala)

The Department of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development is an administrative department of the Government of Kerala. The department is tasked with formulating and implementing policies aimed at promoting education, employment and overall welfare for Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Castes (SC). It has its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. ^{[1] [2]}

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Department

Department overview
Jurisdiction	India Kerala
Headquarters	Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Minister responsible	O. R. Kelu, Minister for SC/ST Development
Department executive	Puneet Kumar, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to Government
Parent department	Government of Kerala

Ministerial Team

The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Department is overseen by the Cabinet Minister of the Government of Kerala, with civil servants such as the Secretary to Government appointed to assist in managing the department and executing its functions.

The incumbent Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is O. R. Kelu. ^{[3] [4]}

Functions

Reference: ^[1]

• Welfare of Scheduled Castes
  • Administration of Scheduled Castes Development Department
  • Matters relating to policies, programmes and schemes for social and economic development of Scheduled Castes and their welfare

• • Administrative matters of Kerala State Development Corporation for SC/ST
  • Educational institutions for Scheduled Castes.
• Welfare of Scheduled Tribes
  • Administration of Scheduled Tribes Department
  • Matters relating to educational, social and economic development of tribals including scholarships, hostels, stipend, Balavadies, etc.

Sub-Departments

• Directorate of Scheduled Castes Development
• Directorate of Scheduled Tribes Development

Aligned institutions

• Kerala institute for Research Training & Development studies of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes

See also

• Government of Kerala

Reference

1. "Rules of Business of the Government of Kerala: Part II – First Schedule (See Rule 4)" (PDF). General Administration Department, Government of Kerala. Government of Kerala. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
2. Joseph, Jose K. (2025-08-11). "Kerala government plans job placement for 50,000 SC/ST youths this year". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
3. "Kerala Minister O R Kelu orders probe into Palakkad children's death after sunshade collapse". @mathrubhumi. 2025-11-10. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
4. Service, Express News (2025-09-05). "Govt aims to bring underprivileged sections to mainstream: Minister O R Kelu". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-11-14.