Section 2A. Application of Act to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribes

From such date as may be appointed in this behalf by the State Government by notification in the Official Gazette, the provisions of this Act shall also apply to all the members of the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or both, wherever residing in the state in the same manner as they apply to agriculturists and the word 'agriculturist', wherever occurring in this Act, shall, unless the subject or context otherwise requires, be deemed to include a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe irrespective of whether or not he is an agriculturist within the meaning of clause (b) of section 2.