Dynamics of Difference: Inequality and Transformation in Rural India

284 Pages·2021·4.984 MB·English

by  Narendar Pani (editor)

DYNAMICS OF DIFFERENCE
This original conceptualization provides insights into the role of inequality
in the processes of change in rural India. It presents in-depth analyses and
understanding of the nature and form of inequality, and its causes and con-
sequences. The volume examines interpersonal, intergroup, and intraper-
sonal inequalities in the country’s rural transformation. Through research
based on ethnographic, primary survey, and secondary data methods, this
multidimensional study discusses key themes such as normative and descrip-
tive inequalities; class, caste, and other identities; economic poverty; educa-
tional poverty; poverty in health; gendered poverty; inequality and power;
the impact of migration; ethical issues and vulnerabilities; and suicidal con-
sequences of inequality. It builds cohesive arguments, based on the develop-
ment of several new indicators, to examine rural inequality.
This book will be of interest to scholars and researchers of political econ-
omy, economics, development studies, development economics, sociology,
public policy, political science, political sociology, and rural sociology.
Narendar Pani is Professor and Head of the Inequality and Human
Development Programme at National Institute of Advanced Studies,
Bengaluru, India.

DYNAMICS OF
DIFFERENCE
Inequality and Transformation in Rural India
Edited by Narendar Pani
First published 2022
by Routledge
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and by Routledge
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© 2022 selection and editorial matter, National Institute of
Advanced Studies (NIAS); individual chapters, the contributors
The right of Narendar Pani to be identified as the author of the
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has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
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British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record has been requested for this book
ISBN: 978-0-367-47339-6 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-54786-8 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-04706-3 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003047063
Typeset in Sabon
by SPi Technologies India Pvt Ltd (Straive)
CONTENTS
List of Figures vii
List of Tables viii
Contributors x
Preface xii
PART I
Visualizing inequality 1
1 Processes of inequality 3
NARENDAR PANI
2 Processes of transformation 23
SUMEDHA BAJAR
3 Vulnerability and escape 43
NARENDAR PANI
PART II
Interpersonal and intergroup inequalities 65
4 Tangible vulnerability 67
NARENDAR PANI AND KSHITIJA JOSHI
5 Gendered intangible inequality 91
CHANDANA RAJASEKHARAN BINDU, PRATHEEBA VIMALNATH, AND
NARENDAR PANI
v
CONTENTS
6 Power and dominance 111
NARENDAR PANI, CHANDANA RAJASEKHARAN BINDU, AND
MEGHA POONIA
PART III
Intrapersonal inequalities 129
7 Intrapersonal inequality and distance dualism 131
NARENDAR PANI AND AJIT KUMAR BABU
8 Caste, power, and aspiration in structural dualism 150
JIYAUL HAQUE
9 Regional divergence in farmers’ suicides 164
DEBOSREE BANERJEE
10 Conceptualizing farmers’ suicides 177
NARENDAR PANI
11 Agricultural labourer suicides in a Kerala village 188
P. SHIHABUDEEN, DEBOSREE BANERJEE, AND KSHITIJA JOSHI
12 Cultivator suicides in a Maharashtra village 205
ANKIT SASWADE AND KSHITIJA JOSHI
13 Precariousness and suicide 219
NARENDAR PANI AND DEBOSREE BANERJEE
PART IV
Negotiations of inequality 233
14 Aspirations and victimhood 235
NARENDAR PANI, UBAID MUSHTAQ, AND MEGHA POONIA
15 Difference and inequality 247
NARENDAR PANI
Index 260
vi
FIGURES
2.1 District-wise CL/AL ratio in India, 2001 31
2.2 District-wise CL/AL ratio in India, 2011 32
2.3 District-wise increase in the number of rural non-
agricultural main workers between 2001 and 2011 34
2.4 Movement of population out of rural areas between 2001
and 2011 35
2.5 District-wise proportion of marginal workers to total
workers in 2001 36
2.6 District-wise proportion of marginal workers to total
workers in 2011 37
2.7 District-wise increase in the number of marginal workers
between 2001 and 2011 38
2.8 District-wise increase in the number of main workers in
agriculture between 2001 and 2011 39
3.1 The cycle of vulnerability 45
3.2 Routes of escape from the cycle of vulnerability 48
5.1 Gender discrimination within households 98
6.1 Index of Identity Dominance 125
9.1 Suicide rates of farmers and non-farmers 168
13.1 Suicide mortality rate ratio (SMRR) of farmers to
housewives 223
vii
TABLES
3.1 Distribution of workers by age and occupation in Local
Non-farm transformation 56
3.2 Distribution of workers by age and occupation in the
Leaving Rural transformation 58
3.3 Distribution of workers by age and occupation in the
Marginal Worker transformation 59
3.4 Distribution of workers by age and occupation in the
Entering Agriculture transformation 61
3.5 Share of workers to population across forms of rural
transformation (in percent) 63
4.1 IDFAD across forms of transformation and select occupations 80
4.2 Indicators of economic and educational deprivation across
forms of transformation 81
4.3 Inequality in sample villages and forms of transformation 85
4.4 Pearson’s correlation coefficients of IDFAD and
government support 88
5.1 Distribution of men and women workers by occupation
and form of transformation (in percent) 95
5.2 Gender ratios of workers by occupation and age in the
Local Non-farm transformation 99
5.3 Gender ratios of workers by occupation and age in the
Leaving Rural transformation 102
5.4 Gender ratios of workers by occupation and age in the
Marginal Worker transformation 105
5.5 Gender ratios of workers by occupation and age in the
Entering Agriculture transformation 108
9.1 State-wise coefficients of variation in annual farmers’
suicide rates 169
9.2 State-wise averages of farmers’ suicide rates in India (per
100,000 population), 1995–2014 170
9.3 Comparison of suicides by farmers and non-farmers 171
9.4 Trends in farmers’ suicide rates, 1995–2014 172
viii
TABLES
9.5 Categorization of states by the persistence of the severity
of farmers’ suicide, 1995–2014 173
9.6 Ratios of agricultural labourer to cultivator suicides,
2014–2015 175
11.1 Caste-wise distribution of sample households in Thiyoor 191
11.2 Caste-wise share of cultivators and agricultural labourers
in total workers in Thiyoor 192
11.3 Patterns of lending in Thiyoor by source and major caste
groups 194
11.4 Age distribution of workers in different occupations in
Thiyoor 197
11.5 Average loans of a household for different purposes (in
thousand rupees) 199
12.1 Distribution of farmers by size of farms and land use 208
13.1 Regression of SMRRs and the ratio of cultivators to
agricultural labourers 228
13.2 Regressions of the effect of price and yield on farmers’
suicides 229
13.3 Regression of SMRRs for Local Non-farm transformation 230
13.4 Regression of SMRRs for Leaving Rural transformation 230
13.5 Regression of SMRRs for Marginal Worker transformation 231
13.6 Regression of SMRRs for Entering Agriculture
transformation 231
ix