Understanding Spatial Inequalities in South Indian Cities: Exploring Residential Segregation Based on Caste

Abstract

This paper examines how caste plays a role in generating and perpetuating spatial inequalities in 108 Class-1 towns in five south Indian states. It explores this through the phenomenon of caste-based residential segregation, viewed in two dimensions: the degree of unevenness and exposure. While both dimensions independently contribute to segregation, the combined effects exacerbate the phenomenon. Caste remains a significant factor in spatial segregation in urban India. Larger cities exhibit lower segregation levels compared to smaller ones. However, a clear correlation between population size and residential segregation was not observed. Higher degrees of evenness in the distribution in a city across communities do not ensure there will be more interaction and lesser segregation, and vice versa