Dynamics of Caste-based Deprivation in Child Under-Nutrition in India

This paper makes an attempt at illustrating the dynamics of caste-based deprivation considering the case of child under-nutrition. It essentially demonstrates the patterns of differentials in nutrition according to other potential correlates of under-nutrition within SC/ST and others and comments on the limits of translating a given set of capabilities in to functioning/outcome (child nutrition here). It finds that while deprivation gap according to potential correlates is higher in general compared with SC/STs, there is clear demonstration of differential translation of capabilities like education, residential status, work status into outcome like nutrition among the SC/STs vis-à-vis the others. The results are also confirmed with application of a logit model. The study uses the data from National Family Health Survey report (NFHS-2, 1998- 99) for the purpose of this illustration. [CDS Working Paper 380]