ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the status and trend of caste inequality in child stunting in Bihar and identifies the key sources of inequality in it. In the process, we reflect on whether the given scenario is unique to Bihar state or mirrors the larger trend that India as a whole displays. Based on the analysis of micro-data, it is found that Bihar registered a marked decline in the incidence of child stunting, particularly within the backward classes, resulting in a decline in absolute caste inequality. This, however, remains higher when compared to India. Findings from the decomposition analysis reveal that in Bihar, a relatively higher proportion of inequality is unexplainable and captured by the constant term. Inequality in access to socioeconomic resources contributes significantly to the endowment component. Ostensibly, caste-based norms remain rigid in Bihar. Since child stunting implicates adult productivity and income, inequality in it compromises the notion of justice, both at present and in the future.
