And What About Us Then? - A study of the attitudes held by dominant caste group members on redistribution, who should benefit from it and how it should be done.

Under the framework of the KU Leuven Bezonder Onderzoeksfonds (BOF) funded project: “Who wants to share? Analyzing perceptions of horizontal inequalities and redistribution attitudes in India and South Africa”, this current research aims to study the attitudes held by members of Hindu dominant and upper caste groups in India regarding group-based redistribution (horizontal redistribution). India’s is a markedly stratified society, where hierarchies of caste, religion, tribal ethnicity, class, etc., have remained salient for numerous generations. It is also one among the first nations to implement group based redistribution measures such as the affirmative action policies that reserve seats in public sector jobs, higher education and in electoral constituencies for members from socially disadvantaged groups. In spite of such dedicated measures, inequality between historically advantaged and disadvantaged groups continues to be significant and shows signs of persistence. Additionally, since the early 2000s, multiple Indian states were rocked by large, often violent, demonstrations by dominant upper caste groups, who, despite not facing marginalization or discrimination experienced by the ‘Dalits’ (ex-untouchable castes) or the tribal communities, are demanding reservation benefits for their communities. The demands for redistribution by the dominant caste groups juxtaposed with the continued socioeconomic marginalization of lower caste, Dalits and Tribals presents pertinent questions on the differences in attitudes towards redistribution between individuals and groups in India and what helps explain these differences. While the issue of group based inequality and horizontal redistribution is of great political and social significance in India, research on the attitudes towards redistribution among Indians is grossly underdeveloped and is in need of much theorizing and empirical work. This current study aims to advance this knowledge by researching three key elements relating to the attitudes of dominant caste group members towards redistribution and how it is affected by – 1. Perceptions of inequality, values and belief systems; 2. The identity of the beneficiary; 3. The type of redistribution policy.