ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the patterns of labour market discrimination in Bihar through the lenses of caste and gender during the period 1999–2000 to 2021–22. The questions that we specifically seek to answer are: How far have the levels of participation in the labour market varied across different castes or social groups, namely, the scheduled tribes (ST), scheduled castes (SC), other backward castes (OBC), and general castes (Others)? Is there any difference in this regard when considered separately for the males and females within these groups? What have been the skill and educational levels of the labour force from various social groups? What are the reasons behind some people’s abstinence from the labour force? What are the determinants of people’s labour market participation? What has been the mode of employment for the workers from different social groups? What has been the extent of employment diversification among workers from different social groups? What have been their levels of wages and earnings? What is the incidence of the ‘working poor’ among the workers? The study concludes that although there is some evidence of caste and gender-based discrimination in the labour market declining in recent years in certain aspects, the extent of discrimination against the lower caste groups and women continues to remain quiet high in Bihar despite concerted efforts by the government to diminish that. This conclusion calls for more effective implementation of the affirmative actions adopted by the state government to enhance their access to quality education (including skill training) and productive employment opportunities. Further, as the groups of OBCs and SCs are divided into numerous sub-castes, all of whom may not necessarily be benefiting equally from the government programmes, thereby causing persistence of both inter- and intra-caste inequality, the Bihar government should complete the new caste census that would help to devise schemes for better targeting of the most deprived and underprivileged in the state.
