Indian Discrimination Report is an effort to examine the conditions of the marginalized and minority communities in India. Published by Oxfam India, its focus is mainly directed at the discrimination faced by certain groups in labour markets which hinder their potential to develop and grow like others in the same field.
Regardless of having the same abilities, they are subjected to different treatment due to their social background and identity. Oxfam India says that the research conducted on this issue throughout the country is minimal. They collected data from government sources from 2004 – 2014 to study the inequality and discrimination, connected with the accessibility of jobs, income, agriculture and health.
What did the Report find?
1. The report highlighted that despite having the same educational background and work experience, women in India are discriminated against, when compared to their male counterparts who have the similar qualifications. This discrimination in the labour market is the result of societal and employers’ prejudices.
The report also observed that discrimination is the factor behind 100 per cent of employment inequality encountered by women in rural areas and 98 per cent in the urban areas.
2. According to the study, discrimination is an imperative factor behind the low Female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in India. As per the report of the Union Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Female Labour Force Participation Rate in the country was found out to be only 25.1 per cent in 2020-21 for both urban and rural women. FLFPR was nearly 42.7 per cent during 2004-05, indicating that with the rapid economic development of the period, there was also a withdrawal of women from the workforce.
According to the World Bank findings, this rate of FLFPR is much lower than compared to Russia, China and Brazil.
3. The finding of the 2019-20 report demonstrated that 60 per cent of all the males in the age group of 15 and above held regular salaried or self-employed jobs. While the rate was an alarming 19 percent in the case of women of the same age group.
The study also showed a major gap between the earnings of men and women in urban areas in the case of regular jobs and self-employment. The average earning for men in self-employment in urban areas was found to be INR 15,996, while for women it was only INR 6,626. So, the average earning of men was almost 2.5 times more than the average earning of women.
4. Apart from this, the report also conducted study to examine the discrimination in labour market faced by communities that were subjected to oppression in Indian history— Adivasis and Dalits— along with religious minorities like the Muslims.
It was found that these communities still encounter discrimination in access to jobs, livelihood and agricultural credits.
The mean income for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with regular employment in urban areas is INR 15,312. On the contrary, the mean income of people in General Category is INR 20,346. According to the report, persons belonging to the General Category are earning 33 percent more than the people in SC/ST or Adivasis, Dalits, and other groups.
The average earning for self-employment is INR 10,533 for SCs or STs workers while it is INR 15,878 for non-SCs or STs.
5. In case of rural areas, these communities are also encountering discrimination in casual employment. The study showed that due to 79 per cent discrimination in urban areas, the casual wage work of SC and ST worker is lower compared to others.
In self-employment, non- SCs/STs are able to earn a third more in comparison to SC/ST workers. Although, a major share of agricultural workforce is made up of these communities, caste persists to act as a major challenge in access of agricultural credits.
6. Muslims are still experiencing challenges to access income through salaried jobs and self-employment when compared to non-Muslims.
The sharpest rise in unemployment was recorded at 17 per cent in rural areas which was of Muslims during the first quarter of the COVID-19 Pandemic. During this time, unemployment rate of Muslims in rural areas increased to 31.4 percent.
The report also demonstrated the growing discriminated faced by Muslims over the years. In 2004-05, the discrimination was 59.3 per cent rising by 9 percent compared to the last 16 years.
7. In urban areas, the salaried Non-Muslims have an average earning of INR 20,346 while Muslims merely earn INR 13,672 which is 1.5 times lower than the non-Muslim workers.
The report said that the non-Muslims are earning nearly 49 per cent more in regular salaried jobs. While in case of self employment, despite the overrepresentation of Muslims, non-Muslims earn INR 15,878 on an average while Muslims earn INR 11,421.
