Caste-based analysis of multidimensional early childhood poverty in India: Patterns and determinants

Abstract

Children are among the most vulnerable groups worldwide, bearing a disproportionate share of the burden of poverty. One-third of children, compared to one-sixth of adults, are multidimensionally poor. Experiencing poverty in childhood can have long-term negative consequences across generations. As a result, multidimensional poverty measures have recently been investigated in the child poverty literature. This study analysed multidimensional poverty among children (0–59 months) in India using the Alkire-Foster’s counting approach and looked into how it differs across the country’s well-known social stratification, the Caste system. The determinants of multidimensional child poverty (MCP) have been determined using multiple logistic regression. By using National Family Health Survey, 2019–21 data, the study revealed that the incidence of MCP in India is 32 %; highest among Scheduled Tribes (STs) (50 %), followed by Scheduled Castes (SCs) (37 %), Other Backward Classes (OBCs) (30 %) and ‘Others’ (22 %). Across all the Castes highest rates of deprivation were recorded in the indicators of standard of living and early childhood development (ECD) dimensions; together, they contribute more than 50 % to the MCP index (MCPI). The contribution of the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) dimension in MCPI of STs is also noticeably higher (20.2 %). Of the 15 indicators considered, availability of TV/Radio, followed by immunisation, sanitation, cooking fuel, housing condition, and stunting, are the leading contributors with a combined contribution of more than 55 %. A child being a male, of higher birth order and born to a mother with higher years of schooling was more likely to experience multidimensional poverty. The household head’s sex, age, and years of schooling were significantly associated with MCP. Across all castes, children from nuclear families, 7 + household members, higher number of children per woman, rural areas, central, eastern and north-eastern (except STs) regions were more likely to experience multidimensional poverty.