Caste, Class, Gender

Abstract

Ashwini Deshpande argues the translation and impact of momentous post reform changes on inter-group disparities has been uneven. Caste inequality shows very strong inter-state variation and some convergence, but no clear relationship between growth and convergence. Gender wage gaps are substantial, despite the reduction in the average gender wage gap for regular wage and salaried employees over the last decade, and these are greater for the lower part of the wage distribution. A decomposition of these gaps between ‘explained’ and ‘residual’ indicates the discriminatory component is greater among the bottom four wage deciles, indicating the presence of a ‘sticky floor’, rather than a ‘glass ceiling’ for women. While poverty incidence has reduced, class inequality has increased sharply, which has fuelled a protracted armed insurgency in large parts of the country.