About the Book

This book encapsulates the academic engagement of Sukhadeo Thorat over the past forty years. Thorat has been deeply involved in researching some of the most contentious issues of inter-group economic inequalities – particularly those linked to caste, tribe, religion, and gender–caste intersectionality.

The book presents Thorat’s lifelong research, condensed into seventeen articles, on the persistent poverty and deprivation faced by discriminated groups, and the roots of these issues in caste-based economic discrimination.

Innovatively, it offers insight into the sources and motivations behind caste economic discrimination, drawing on general economic theories of discrimination and, more specifically, theories related to caste. Based on these theoretical frameworks and a wealth of empirical evidence on caste and untouchability-based economic discrimination, the book also reflects on remedies to address this deeply rooted and enduring problem.

Additionally, it explores a conceptual framework for studying caste-based economic discrimination and its consequences for poverty among marginalised groups – a resource that will be especially valuable to young researchers.

In today’s context of growing demands for caste-, religion-, and gender-based policies, this book is both timely and essential reading for those engaged in research and policymaking on group inequalities and their remedies.

Contents

Foreword by Jean Drèze              

Introduction: Academic Journey in Retrospect: From Nowhere

to Up There       

Inter-Social Group Economic Inequality in Human Development

Persistence of Social Group Inequalities in Poverty and Income: Caste, Tribe and Religious Minority

Caste Inequality in Human Poverty: Poor Housing, Illiteracy, Malnutrition and Poor Health

Why Some Religious Minorities are More Deprived than Others?             

Dalit Women’s Marginality: Intersectionality across Gender and Caste

Why Caste-based Economic Inequality Still Persists?

Insight from Economic Theories of Discrimination

Economic Theories of Discrimination: Sources, Motives, Impacts               and Policies

Economic Theories of Caste Discrimination: Sources, Motives, Impacts and Policies

Sources of Caste Inequality: Caste Discrimination and Unequal Access to Wealth and Education

Caste and Religious Identity in Call Back for Employment              

Caste Discrimination in Hiring, Wages, and its Impact on Poverty               

Caste Matters in Agricultural Income, Input Use and Productivity             

Role of Caste Discrimination and Wealth Inequality in Unequal Education Attainment

Measurement of Caste Discrimination: Conceptual Framework

Measuring Caste and Untouchability-Based Economic Discrimination: Concept and Indicators

Empirical Evidence on Caste and Untouchability-based Discrimination from Primary Surveys

Caste Discrimination in Rural Markets: Labour, Land, Consumer  Goods and Inputs

Scheduled Castes Businesses: Caste Discrimination in Purchase of Inputs and Sale of Outputs    

Caste Discrimination in Urban Rental Housing Market

Why is Conviction in Atrocities Against Scheduled Castes Low?: Caste Solidarity in Administration Matters

Remedies Against Caste Discrimination and Inequality

Empowerment Policies for Discriminated Groups: Legal,                Reservation, and Reparation

Myths and Reality of Opposition to Reservation Policy

About the Author / Editor

Sukhadeo Thorat, Professor Emeritus at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He holds the K.R. Narayanan Chair at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, and was Ambedkar Chair Professor at the University of Calicut, Kerala. He is a former Chairman of the University Grants Commission and the Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi. In recognition of his contributions to education and his service to the deprived sections of society, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2008.