Impact of Affirmative Action on Health Outcomes in India

Significant Findings from Recent Study

New Delhi, Jan 20: A recent study conducted by researchers at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow highlights the positive effects of affirmative action in local governance on health outcomes in India, particularly regarding infant survival rates and maternal prenatal care.

This research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), sheds light on how structural changes can effectively tackle longstanding social and health disparities.

The results indicated that village clusters with affirmative action in leadership roles exhibited significantly improved health metrics.

Notably, infant mortality rates were found to be considerably lower in villages governed by local representatives.

Additionally, maternal health indicators showed enhancements, with increased likelihoods of women receiving at least two prenatal visits, tetanus vaccinations, and prenatal supplements by the second trimester.

According to Prof. K. G. Sahadevan from the institute, "Our findings suggest that local leaders from historically marginalized groups are making decisions regarding health and education funding that help mitigate some structural inequalities within their communities."

The research utilized a quasi-experimental approach to examine the effects of leadership reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC) in India's local governance, which is crucial for delivering essential public services like health and education.

The study compared 60 village clusters with SC-reserved leadership against 60 clusters without such reservations in 2021.

Data was gathered from various sources, including administrative health records, primary data from schools, and detailed interviews with local leaders.

While health outcomes improved in villages with affirmative action, the education sector did not show similar advancements.

The research team found no statistically significant differences in test scores between the two groups.

Moreover, it was noted that SC leaders faced challenges in collaborating with teachers, suggesting that ongoing social inequalities might hinder educational improvements and discourage potential SC leaders from emerging.

This study offers valuable insights for policymakers in low- and middle-income nations aiming to enhance human development outcomes.