Inter-Group Inequalities in Child Undernutrition in India: Intersecting Caste, Gender and Place of Residence

Despite profound distributional concerns, studies on undernutrition in India (or elsewhere) have exclusively focused on inter-personal inequalities whereas estimates regarding the magnitude of intersecting inequalities are unavailable. As such, an explicit concern for horizontal intersecting inequalities not only substantiates the intrinsic concern for equity but also offers vital policy insights that are evidently lost while engaging with a thoroughgoing individualistic approach. With this motivation, we apply the group analogues of Atkinson’s index and Gini coefficient to unravel the disproportionate burden of undernourishment borne by rural and historically vulnerable caste groups. Furthermore, the prominent determinants of inter-group disparities are identified through Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition analysis. In concluding, the paper calls for explicit targeting of backward castes across the country and improved inter-sectoral collaboration to ensure equitable access to education, healthcare, water and sanitation, particularly across underdeveloped regions.