poverty, participation and panchayats anirudh krishna, duke university
TRANSCRIPT
Poverty, Participation and Panchayats
Anirudh Krishna, Duke University
SELECTED FROM RESEARCH ON
Panchayats and Collective Action Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan
Democratic Participation Andhra, M.P, Rajasthan
Poverty, Education and Social MobilityAndhra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka
Poverty: A Dynamic Property
Escaped
Poverty
Became Poor
Net Poverty Reductio
n
Rajasthan (35 villages)
11% 8% 3%
Gujarat (36 villages)
9% 6% 3%
Andhra (36 villages)
14% 12% 2%
Escape and Descent are parallel and concurrent
Reasons for Escape differ from Reasons for Descent
Separate policies are needed – to prevent descent, and to promote escape
The News about Poverty
Major Reasons for Descent
Health and health-related expenses (59% in Rajasthan; 88% in Gujarat; 75% in Andhra)
Social expenses: death feasts, marriages (37% in Rajasthan; 49% in Gujarat; 69% Andhra)
High-interest private debt (86% in Rajasthan; 52% in Gujarat; 60% in Andhra)
Other location-specific reasons(24% in Andhra: non-delivering irrigation schemes in particular villages)
Major Reasons for Escape
Diversification of Income Sources (45% Gujarat, 70% Rajasthan, 51% Andhra)
Irrigation and farm improvement (29% Gujarat, 27% Rajasthan, 25% Andhra)
Jobs (many fewer)
Government assistance programs (paltry: 6% Gujarat, 7% Rajasthan, 6% Andhra)
Poverty Reduction
Panchayats can make critical impacts by
• Improving Healthcare
• Promoting Upward Mobility…
(also specific local causes…)
The Good News: Rapid Rise in Education Achievement
Percentage with 5 or more years of formal education
Age 61+ 31-40 21-25 11-15
Gender F M F M F M F M
Rajasthan
1 17 9 46 23 73 54 75
Karnataka
4 27 22 43 51 74 92 92
Source: Original data collected in 2006 from 20 Rajasthan and 20 Karnataka villages
Rising Functional Literacy (11-15-year-olds by caste group and gender)
Caste group OBC SC ST General
Gender F M F M F M F M
Rajasthan
62 79 64 76 24 47 87 84
Karnataka
94 94 86 92 86 82 - -
Source: Original data collected in 2006 from 20 Rajasthan and 20 Karnataka villages
Highest levels reached in 71 Rajasthan villages (last 10 years)Accountant (2)
Lineman (7)
Advocate (4)
Panchayat Secy. (4)
Computer Operator (4)
Patwari (11)
Constable (8)
Peon (6)
Clerk Typist (10)
Sub-Inspector (4)
Doctor (1)
Schoolteacher (50)
Driver (4)
Soldier (Jawan) (32)
Civil Engineer (2)
Software Engineer (1)
But severely limited upward mobility…
Highest levels reached in 20 Karnataka villages (last 10 years)Accountant (3)
Lineman (2)
Advocate (3)
Panchayat Secy. (2)
Computer Operator (4)
Patwari (3)
Constable (11)
Peon (6)
Clerk Typist (6)
Nursing Asst. (1)
Doctor (1)
Schoolteacher (21)
Driver (2)
Soldier (Jawan) (8)
Engineer (3)
Veterinary Asst. (2)
Sharp Drop after Elementary Education
• Karnataka villages: Only 5.5 percent have more than 11 years of education
• Rajasthan villages: Only 3.1 percent have more than 11 years of education
(These percentages nearly the same among 21-25 year-olds)
Source: Original data
EDUCATION AND ASPIRATIONS
1. Rapidly rising demand for education, but
2. A sharp drop-off occurs soon after elementary school, and
3. Achievements and aspirations are both severely limited
Stated Career Aspirations(Percent of 556 villagers, 14-22 years old and attending
school)
RAJASTHAN KARNATAKA
BETTER-PAID POSITIONS
13% 12%
Accountant >1% >1%
Business Manager >1% >1%
Doctor 2% 2%
Engineer 3% 4%
Lawyer 2% 1%
Senior Government 3% 1%
Other well-paid 1% 2%
LOW-PAID POSITIONS 87% 88%
School Teacher 43% 39%
Army or Police recruit 24% 17%
Other low-level govt. 15% 22%
Other low-paid private 5% 11%
PARALLEL STUDY: WHO BECOMES A SOFTWARE PROFESSIONAL?
Detailed interviews with 150 newly recruited software engineers (random selection from three Bangalore-based firms) and HRD managers of these and other firms
THREE SIGNIFICANT GAPS
Rural Gap
Wealth Gap
Generational Education Gap – most significant
Only between 4% and 7% of Indians qualify
Upward Mobility
Panchayats’ roles?
Employment exchanges?
Secure transportation to high schools?
Teaching quality and quantity
Promoting role models (most promising)
NjHealth
NjHigher Education
NjUpward Mobility
www.pubpol.duke.edu/krishna
What do you expect: If you were to make contact with a government official or political leader, will you get a response or will you be ignored?
Rajasthan Andhra
1: Will get a response: 41% 46%
2: Will be ignored: 59% 54%
Access is a key issue…
Access is a problem, but faith in democracy remains strong:
Question: Suppose a political leader arranges to increase your income by 50 percent forever but also asks to stay in power forever: no more elections will be held. Will you support this leader?
Support or Strongly Support
Very Poor(stages 1-3)
20%
Poor(stages 4-5)
19%
Middle(stages 6-8)
17%
Better Off(stages 9+)
16%
Strong party identification, but parties do not solve the Access Problem for ordinary citizens:
91% of 2,291 respondents strongly identified themselves with one or another political party
Increase in party identification over seven years
But parties are centralized, top-down organizations, with no permanent presence at the grassroots
Rarely enable access upward
Who helps with Access in the following situations? (Rajasthan, 1997-98 data)
Similar result in Andhra: more than 60% rely upon Naya Netas.
Party Reps.
Panchayat Leaders
Caste Leaders
Naya Netas
Dealing with police or tahsil
6% 5% 20% 62%
Getting a bank loan
5% 7% 8% 63%
Replacing a non-performing teacher
4% 18% 11% 64%
Getting wage employment
4% 11% 8% 70%