Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
The present research attempts to understand the fair representation of communities in scheduled castes (SCs) with educational achievement graduates and above in selected states of India. Diversity, Evenness and Inequality are examined by applying the indices Shannon-Weinner diversity, Buzas and Gibson evenness, and Theil inequality. We analysed census 2011 data comprising all graduates in the age group 20–24 years of age. Analysis of the Shannon diversity index affirms that not all the communities of SCs are equitably represented with education level graduation and above. The study illustrates that only a few communities with huge populations have education level attainment of graduates and above. Whereas the communities with smaller populations are underrepresented, and in some communities, the representation is nil. This corroborates the importance of identifying communities that are still underrepresented even after implementing affirmative action. The Shannon-winner index assessment indicates that the level of diversification across the communities within SCs of selected states does not differ. Further comparison of the quintessential value of and the perfect value of diversification by community’s attainment in education level graduates and above reveals discrepancy and was the highest in the state of Tamil Nadu, with a differing value of 2.5, and the least in the state of Punjab, with a value of 1.6. The first step of the investigation identified the least diversification, lack of evenness, and inequalities between the communities of SCs by representation in education level graduate and above in the selected states of India. Hence, prioritizing rarely represented communities needs immediate attention.
Author Archives: Vini Sivanandan
Dissimilarities in Access to Sanitation Facilities by Caste and Region in India and States
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
In India, most people have been finding it challenging to maintain their quality of life, such as standard housing, access to basic minimum drinking water facilities, sanitation, public hygiene, etc. This study attempts to study the availability of housing and household amenities among social groups and identify the inter-rural−urban differences in basic sanitation facilities. Data from the Census of India, 2011, H-Series household amenities and assets, was used to measure the dissimilarity between inter-rural−urban differences by social groups. The present study aimed to explore the differentials across the region and social groups by the availability of different basic sanitation facilities. Analysis shows striking dissimilarities in rural areas of states such as Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Tripura and the union territory of Daman and Diu. Moreover, the intensity of dissimilarities is prominently observed between caste Others and ST in rural areas. However, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the dissimilarity in the availability of bathrooms without a roof is observed uniformly across regions and among social groups. Furthermore, the study emphasizes that although dissimilarity may not be visible at an aggregate level, it is very much visible at the sub-aggregate level across regions and between castes. Hence, it is proposed to conduct and collect data based on a holistic approach incorporating people’s behaviour, attitudes, cultural norms and biases while providing sanitation facilities and those who are availing them. Such research studies will provide a deeper insight into the root causes of such dissimilarities, which may be due to geographical location, the non-availability of water, cultural practices, biases, etc., or the intersection of all these factors. Identifying hotspots at the micro level will help accelerate the success of government schemes such as the Swachh Bharat Mission.
In India, most people have been finding it challenging to maintain their quality of life, such as standard housing, access to basic minimum drinking water facilities, sanitation, public hygiene, etc. This study attempts to study the availability of housing and household amenities among social groups and identify the inter-rural−urban differences in basic sanitation facilities. Data from the Census of India, 2011, H-Series household amenities and assets, was used to measure the dissimilarity between inter-rural−urban differences by social groups. The present study aimed to explore the differentials across the region and social groups by the availability of different basic sanitation facilities. Analysis shows striking dissimilarities in rural areas of states such as Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Tripura and the union territory of Daman and Diu. Moreover, the intensity of dissimilarities is prominently observed between caste Others and ST in rural areas. However, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the dissimilarity in the availability of bathrooms without a roof is observed uniformly across regions and among social groups. Furthermore, the study emphasizes that although dissimilarity may not be visible at an aggregate level, it is very much visible at the sub-aggregate level across regions and between castes. Hence, it is proposed to conduct and collect data based on a holistic approach incorporating people’s behaviour, attitudes, cultural norms and biases while providing sanitation facilities and those who are availing them. Such research studies will provide a deeper insight into the root causes of such dissimilarities, which may be due to geographical location, the non-availability of water, cultural practices, biases, etc., or the intersection of all these factors. Identifying hotspots at the micro level will help accelerate the success of government schemes such as the Swachh Bharat Mission.