Notes of Nagesh

  Many banks and microfinance companies claim that they treat everyone equally. But research shows something very different. Even when people from different castes have the same income, same land, and same education , a big part of the difference in who gets loans cannot be explained . This unexplained gap is because of statistical discrimination — lenders assume someone is “high‑risk” just because of their caste, not because of their actual financial situation. This problem is even worse in microfinance. Studies show that about 66% of Dalit applicants are rejected , even when they meet the same conditions as others. There is also a difference between how Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) are treated. SCs face general discrimination. STs face a special kind of bias: even when they apply, their approval rate is only around 77% , while other groups get 85–88% approval. A lot of this discrimination becomes hidden inside algorithms used by lenders. These systems are ...

Here’s an analysis of the article from The News Minute titled " Kerala man who complained of caste discrimination at work transferred to Gujarat ," focusing on the key themes, allegations, and implications: Overview The article details the experience of Roshan (name changed), an assistant manager at the Ernakulam branch of Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), who alleges he faced caste-based discrimination and harassment from senior officials, Assistant General Manager (AGM) Kashmeer Singh and Chief Regional Manager (CRM) Nitesh Kumar Sinha. Roshan, a Scheduled Caste (SC) individual, claims that after reporting the harassment, he faced retaliation, including a punitive transfer to Ahmedabad and a suspension based on what he asserts are fabricated charges. Key Allegations Caste-Based Harassment : Roshan alleges that AGM Kashmeer Singh assigned him menial tasks (e.g., buying tea, running personal errands) not part of his job description, exploiting his willingness to help initially. He...