Yerukulas carry the social stigma of ex-criminal tribes and experience social exclusion. The present paper seeks to examine the changing trends of livelihoods among the yerukula tribe of rayalaseema in the last ten decades. More specifically our analysis is pertained to the opportunities for pursuit of traditional occupations and modern occupations across four generations. A multistage random sampling technique was adopted to draw the study sample. The sample comprises 85 urban house holds, 135 semi urban house holds and 85 rural house holds spread in kurnool and anantapur districts of rayalaseema region of andhra pradesh. The study reveals that yerukulas are not free from social exclusion. The low or non – existence of better levels of education, modern occupational skills are compelling them to experience social exclusion.

Keywords: Yerukula; social stigma; ex-criminal; livelyhood