Higher percentage of Gujarat families live in kuccha houses, Dalits dependence on casual labour more than India average

By Rajiv Shah

The latest Socio Economic and Caste Survey (SECC) 2011, released recently by Government of India, has revealed that, despite claims of Gujarat "model" to remove poverty, things are not so rosy as it may seem for the vulnerable sections of rural population. Not only do a much higher proportion of families in Gujarat live in kuccha houses, more Dalit households are dependent on manual casual labour than most of the 21 major states.

SECC data show that Gujarat’s 44.52 per cent rural families live in kuccha houses, which is worse than all major 21 states with the exception of poor states such as Chhattisgarh, Assam, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar. The national average of families living in kuccha houses is 43.5 per cent. Though it is supposed to be a caste census, there is, however, no breakup separately for Dalits, Adivasis and "Others" -- the three categories worked out by SECC for providing separate data -- for the type of houses they live in.

Yet, there are spots which show up what's wrong with Gujarat "model". Thus, there are higher proportion of Dalit households in rural Gujarat dependent on manual casual labour than 15 other Indian states. An analysis of 21 major states suggests that more Dalit households than Gujarat are dependent on manual casual labour only in four states – Punjab (77.2 per cent), Bihar (76.21 per cent), Haryana (73.22 per cent), and Kerala 64.92 per cent).

The SECC data further reveal that, when it comes to income, only 6.8 per cent of Dalit households have highest earning persons earning more than Rs 10,000 in Gujarat. This is less than eight out of 21 major states – Jammu & Kashmir (16.61 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (16.35 per cent), Uttarkhand (7.62 per cent), Assam (7.58 per cent), Maharashtra (7.29 per cent), Jharkhand (7.01 per cent), Punjab (6.98 per cent), and Haryana (6.8 per cent).

As for Adivasis in Gujarat, there may be a much lower proportion of Adivasi households compared to the Dalits who are dependent on manual casual labour (35.62 per cent), which is the exact equal to the all-India average. This may be because they may be dependent on collecting forest produce. Even then, this is worse than 11 other states.

Further, there are just 4.33 per cent Adivasi households in Gujarat whose highest earning members' income is more than Rs 10,000. This is against Dalits’ 6.8 per cent, and Others’ 11.39 per cent. The Others category includes all non-Dalits and non-Adivasis and consists of other backward classes, minorities and Hindu upper castes. The all-India average is 4.48 per cent families.

The SECC data further suggest that, in the ownership of assets, the state’s Dalits and Adivasis are worse off than those forming part of the Others category. Thus, in rural Gujarat, there are 29.99 per cent Other households who own a motorized two wheelers – model or motorbike – as against 18.11 per cent Dalits and 14.04 per cent Adivasis.

The SECC data also suggest that 20.19 per cent Other households which have refrigerators, as against Dalits’ 8.39 per cent and Adivasis’ 4.98 per cent. Further, while there are 79.52 per cent Other households which have either mobile or landline phone at their residence, as against 74.32 per cent Dalits and 56.27 per cent Adivasis.

Interesting though it may seem, average households' assets in Gujarat households are to be found be better than most of Indian Indian states. Thus, on an average, 25.83 per cent of Gujarat’s households own two-wheelers, which is higher than all states except Punjab (40.95 per cent), Tamil Nadu (29.91 per cent), Haryana (27.08 per cent), and Telangana (26.95 per cent).

Then, 16.19 per cent Gujarat households have refrigerators, with the national average being 11.4 per cent. And, Gujarat’s 25.8 per cent households do not have either mobile or landline, as against the national average of 27.93 per cent.

Comments

Avoidable Narmada floods: Modi birthday fete caused long wait for release of dam waters

Counterview Desk Top advocacy group, South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), has accused the Sardar Sarovar dam operators for once again acting in an "unaccountable" manner, bringing "avoidable floods in downstream Gujarat." In a detailed analysis, SANDRP has said that the water level at the Golden Bridge in Bharuch approached the highest flood level on September 17, 2023, but these "could have been significantly lower and much less disastrous" both for the upstream and downstream areas of the dam, if the authorities had taken action earlier based on available actionable information.

Biden urged to warn Modi: US can declare India as worst religious freedom offender

By Our Representative During a Congressional Briefing held on Capitol Hill, Washington DC, Nadine Maenza, former Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), has wondered why the Biden administration should raise issues of mass anti-minority mob violence -- particularly in Haryana and Manipur -- with Modi. Modi should be told that if such violence continues, the US will be “compelled by law” to designate India as one of the world’s worst offenders of religious freedom, she urged.

From 'Naatu-Naatu' to 'Nipah-Nipah': Dancing to the tune of western pipers?

By Dr Amitav Banerjee, MD* Some critics have commented that the ecstatic response of most Indians to the Oscar for the racy Indian song, “Naatu-Naatu” from the film, “RRR” reeks of sheer racism, insulting visuals and a colonial hangover. It was perhaps these ingredients that impressed the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, one critic says.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah* The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Why iconic Urdu book stall, publishing house Maktaba Jamia died an 'unnatural' death

By Firoz Bakht Ahmed* We have all grown through the fragrant flavours and flairs of our childhood, one of them being our childhood mother-tongue historic magazines like, “Thakurmar Jhuli” (Bengali), “Khilauna”, Payam-e-Taleem" (Urdu), “Hans” (Marathi), “Parag” (Hindi), “Chitralekha” (Gujarati), “Chandamama” (Telugu), etc. I “drank” Urdu while suckling his mother and learnt the language not from any madrasa, school or college but from these publications only — my treasure trove!

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Asset managers hold '2.8 times more equity' in fossil fuel cos than in green investments

By Deepanwita Gita Niyogi* The world’s largest asset managers are far off track to meet the 2050 net zero commitments , a new study released by InfluenceMap , a London-based think tank working on climate change and sustainability, says. Released on August 1, the Asset Managers and Climate Change 2023 report by FinanceMap, a work stream of InfluenceMap, finds that the world’s largest asset managers have not improved on their climate performance in the past two years.

Evading primary responsibility, ONGC decides to invest Rs 15,000 crore in sick subsidiary

By NS Venkataraman* It is reported that Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will infuse about Rs 15,000 crore in ONGC Petro-additions Ltd (OPaL) as part of a financial restructuring exercise. ONGC currently holds 49.36 per cent stake in (OPaL), which operates a mega petrochemical plant at Dahej in Gujarat. GAIL (India) Ltd has 49.21 per cent interest and Gujarat State Petrochemical Corporation (GSPC) has the remaining 1.43 per cent.

Sales, profits of Indian firms 'deteriorate', yet no significant increase in cost pressures

By Our Representative The Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad's (IIM-A's) latest Business Inflation Expectations Survey (BIES), a monthly exercise, has said that while cost perceptions data does not indicate significant increase of cost pressures, sales and profits of the Indian firms have deteriorated.

Why Bangladesh is achieving 'new heights' amidst economic collapse of Pakistan

By Sufian Siddique* Pakistan's economy is on the brink of bankruptcy like Sri Lanka's. Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves have fallen below $3 billion. They have asked the IMF for a 'bailout loan' a long time ago, but the IMF is trying to impose strict conditions that Pakistan's current ruling coalition has no capacity to meet. Even China and Saudi Arabia, Pakistan's long-standing loyal friends, are now reluctant to shoulder Pakistan's burden.

Search This Blog