Caste status

Many of the Kashmiri Muslims settled in plains of erstwhile Punjab and Gujarat states who were weavers and like Meghs have descended from Brahmins. Rituals observed by Meghs match with that of Brahmins.[8] The word Megh does not denote any particular work attached to this community as had been the case with many other communities. They have been categorized as other backward castes in states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, etc.[15] That is, they are among the castes of India that are specified in a schedule of the Indian constitution for special treatment to overcome disadvantages due to caste prejudice. Hindus do not treat them as Hindus the way they treat other castes within the Hindu fold. There is thinking in Meghs that they are counted as Hindus for political purpose.[16]