IASSI-Quarterly

This study aims to gauge the extent of extant inequality India. It draws upon diverse data sources like nutritional adequacy, income distribution and satellite photos, among others. Additionally, it explores the labour markets and social sectors to seek the origins of inequality.

The findings indicate significant disparities not only between states but also among different demographic groups within the population. Compared internationally, the levels of overall deprivation appear rather high. Malnutrition also poses a substantial challenge and adversely affects labour markets. Moreover, employment rates have not been able to keep pace with the growing population of working-age individuals over time, notably due to a significant withdrawal of female workers from the labour force. This trend, alongside labour redundancy, fosters economic dependency and heightens vulnerability at the household level.

In the realm of social sectors, both Education and Health exhibit deficiencies in quality and affordability, perpetuating inherent inequality. E.g. The cost of education escalates with each academic grade., Similarly, excessive privatisation in healthcare has inflated the cost of accessing medical services.

The overarching development process lacks adequate focus on inclusivity, evident in the marginalization of significant segments of the population in employment, education, and healthcare. Such exclusionary practices run counter to the principles of sustainable development and human welfare. Historical neglect of social sectors has contributed to an excessively large population, exacerbating the issue.