International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

Caste, Social Mobility and DDU-GKY: Evidence from SC/ST Beneficiaries in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh

Caste-based rural livelihood exclusion continues to be a major structural constraint even for SC/ST rural homes in India. Andhra Pradesh, having a significant cast-based rural poverty with Schedules Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) population of 17.1 and 5.3 per cent respectively (Census 2011). The DDU-GKY, a component of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NLM) launched in September 2014,is BPL rural youth including SC/ST communities focused on placement linked skill training. This paper investigates empirically if participation in DDU-GKY leads to positive social mobility and a mitigation of caste based income disadvantage for the SC/ST beneficiaries in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh. Using primary data of 300 beneficiaries and secondary data of the APSSDC and AP Govt. The findings suggest that DDU-GKY has a positive and statistically significant effect on increasing both the income and the number of days employed for SC/STs; however, a structural income penalty (β = −₹6,480) remains after the program, indicating that caste-based targeted complementary measures might be necessary.