Poverty, Participation and Panchayats Anirudh Krishna, Duke University

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%