Panel Paper:
What Explain the Growing Caste Inequalities in Kerala?
*Names in bold indicate Presenter
A P Sreeraj*
Abstract
In the recent years the state of Kerala in South India has witnessed dramatic rise in inequalities and became the state with highest inequality in terms of consumption expenditure among the states in India (during 2009-10). These developments marked the end of the well-known Kerala’s development experience---the high human development indicators and low levels of inequalities without the mediation of high economic growth. The story of marginalization and the sporadic social movements from the certain caste groups (like Dalits, Adivasis, fisher-folks, etc.) in recent years buttress our understanding that there is a worsening of inter-caste inequalities in Kerala. However, the increase in inequality can be due to increase in either intra or inter-group inequalities or both inter and intra-group inequalities. There is a dearth of research on intra-group aspect of inequalities. This study carefully analyses the inequality by decomposing Gini co-efficient into inter-group and intra-group by using Yitzhaki method (Yitzhaki, 1994). For this the study data from NSSO 61st and 66th rounds consumption expenditure survey are used. Field research data is also used to explain the inequality dynamics. This study argues that although inter-group inequalities have increased over the years, intra-group inequalities have also contributed to the recent spurt in inequality in Kerala. The stratification and polarization among certain caste groups, and the emergence of new breed elites are the reasons for increase in inequalities in the state.
*A.P Sreeraj, PhD
Assistant Professor,
Department of Economics,
Central University of Rajasthan, Rajasthan
India. PIN Code: 305801 ; e-mail: sreerajap@gmail.com
