Social exclusion manifests itself in the persistent lack of an individual’s access to functioning as compared to other members of society and we model it as being in a state of deprivation over time. The Scheduled Castes were excluded from the main stream society, suffered stigma and discrimination, lived in poverty and remained marginalized group. The women among Scheduled castes suffered twin disadvantages, one because of their caste and the other because of their gender.,Its almost 60 years since the Protective Discrimination was provided, and about three generations have reaped the fruits of it. How did it help Scheduled Caste Women? Was there social inclusion of Scheduled Caste women, the hitherto socially excluded? Did the Scheduled Caste Women in Andhra Pradesh benefit from Protective Discrimination as means of social inclusion? The study tries to find answers to these questions.

Key words: Social Exclusion, Deprivation, Equity.