Inequalities in Economic and Educational Status in Social Groups in India: Evidences from Village Study in Uttar Pradesh

This paper attempts to analyze the social and economic disparities across social groups in rural Uttar Pradesh. The paper clearly demonstrates that the structure of rural economy in India is charecterised by deeply ingrained prejudices and social discrimination. The four-village study undertaken in one of the most populated states in India, Uttar Pradesh, clearly reveals that there is a huge disparity in terms of various social and economic indicators and the so-called high growth has hardly filtered in bettering their lives. The paper is based on primary data collected from census survey of villages exploring socio-economic disparities across social groups by using decomposition models. The results evidently lend credence to our postulations that a large proportion of disadvantaged groups are prone to multiple deprivations, both in the society and in labour markets. Our inquiry has revealed this phenomenon clearly. From the policy point of view, it is therefore an imperative necessity to have direct and focused provision of basic human requirements in terms of education, employment and income of the state. Such direct policy interventions are of paramount necessity for the state to ensure convergence and inclusive growth process to take place on a sustained basis.