Caste Dimensions of Poverty and Wealth

Even while the country is debating on the inclusion of data on castes in the next decennial census, two reports released last month highlight the growing inequities confronting the disadvantaged castes. The first report titled “Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (GMPI), 2021,” published by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative and the United Nations Development Programme, reveals the high incidence of poverty among the Scheduled Tribe (ST), Scheduled Caste (SC), and Other Backward Class (OBC) segments.

Augmenting these findings is the second report titled “All-India Debt and Investment Survey (AIDIS), 2019,” published by the National Statistical Office, which highlights the disproportionately meagre assets or wealth held by the STs, SCs, and OBCs. Together, these two reports, once again, bring back to the fore the issue of continued deprivations faced by these discriminated groups.