A NSSO report shows there are significant caste-based differences in economic status of agricultural households in India
New Delhi: Social divisions in India’s countryside are a well-established fact. A National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) report released last week shows there are significant caste-based differences in economic status of agricultural households in India. Unsurprisingly, lower castes are the worst-off by most yardsticks.
A large majority of India’s farmers are finding it difficult to make ends meet. Around 70% of agricultural households report a deficit situation, where average monthly income was less than the sum of average monthly consumption and net investment in productive assets.
Agricultural households have been defined as those who received not less than Rs.3,000 of produce from farm activities in the preceding 365 days. The survey was conducted over two rounds in July-December 2012 and January-June 2013. The two survey periods broadly capture India’s two agricultural seasons.
An analysis by social groups shows scheduled caste (SC) farm households have the highest share among those running a deficit, followed by other backward classes (OBC).
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