Economic growth is changing conventional logic of caste-based deprivation in several states. The government’s latest household consumer expenditure data, released by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) shows that scheduled tribes in rural Punjab and Haryana enjoy a better standard of living than the rural population of several states like West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.

The monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) in 2004-05 of these groups at Rs 986.69 and Rs 753.11, respectively, is a reflection of the better opportunities being offered by these states compared to many others.The changing arithmetic is seen in the case of other deprived groups also. For instance, in the case of other backward communities in rural Tamil Nadu, the level of spending per month at Rs 640.49 is far higher than the expenditure of many other social groups.

The findings of the 61st round of the NSSO survey are the seventh in the series of household consumption expenditure. Chief statistician of India, Pronab Sen, said the results were not surprising as the life chances were bound to be linked with the development prospects of a state.

The differences are revealing even if one considers the situation of the archetypical weaker economic sections (STs, SCs and OBCs), even in the case of land holding. “It brings out the weak association of land possessed with the MPCE (the consumption figures)”, the report says.

For instance, the average monthly consumption of OBCs at Rs 556.72 was almost equal to the national average of Rs 558.78 for rural India. In case of urban India, the OBCs’ average spend of Rs 870.93 was of course lower than the national average of Rs 1,052.36. The findings could raise politically sensitive questions over the need for targeting reservations and other incentives.