Marginalized people—disabled people, women, minorities, and indigenous peoples—are among those who are most entrenched in poverty, but they often don’t show up in poverty statistics and analysis. Frances Stewart pointed out that discrimination based on group identity reduces people’s well-being (it has been associated with depression, for instance), leads to inefficiency, is highly associated with poverty, and contributes to conflict. So how can this discrimination be addressed? She described three sets of policies: direct policies like affirmative action, indirect policies like fiscal and macroeconomic policies that favor certain activities, and integrationist policies like school integration. “We won’t succeed in tackling poverty until we tackle these inequalities,” she said.
Sukhadeo Thorat and Neelima Khetan both mentioned India’s policy of reserving seats for women on village councils, but differed somewhat on the impact of this affirmative action approach. Thorat argued that it has made a huge difference in policy in India, whereas Khetan said that given the absence of other changes to transform social relations, changing the membership of the councils has not led to a straightforward change in policies
A commenter from the floor took a hopeful view, arguing that marginalized people should be viewed not as having a problem, but as having potential. The lack of policies and programs to date should be seen as an opportunity to come with innovative solutions with the participation of the people concerned.
Filed under: Commentaries | Tagged: ACWF, CPRC, CRISE, gender, highlights, IIDS, minorities, SEVA Mandir, World Bank
Putting a Spotlight on “Invisible” Groups
Marginalized people—disabled people, women, minorities, and indigenous peoples—are among those who are most entrenched in poverty, but they often don’t show up in poverty statistics and analysis. Frances Stewart pointed out that discrimination based on group identity reduces people’s well-being (it has been associated with depression, for instance), leads to inefficiency, is highly associated with poverty, and contributes to conflict. So how can this discrimination be addressed? She described three sets of policies: direct policies like affirmative action, indirect policies like fiscal and macroeconomic policies that favor certain activities, and integrationist policies like school integration. “We won’t succeed in tackling poverty until we tackle these inequalities,” she said.
Sukhadeo Thorat and Neelima Khetan both mentioned India’s policy of reserving seats for women on village councils, but differed somewhat on the impact of this affirmative action approach. Thorat argued that it has made a huge difference in policy in India, whereas Khetan said that given the absence of other changes to transform social relations, changing the membership of the councils has not led to a straightforward change in policies
A commenter from the floor took a hopeful view, arguing that marginalized people should be viewed not as having a problem, but as having potential. The lack of policies and programs to date should be seen as an opportunity to come with innovative solutions with the participation of the people concerned.
Filed under: Commentaries | Tagged: ACWF, CPRC, CRISE, gender, highlights, IIDS, minorities, SEVA Mandir, World Bank