Context: The findings based on the India Human Development Survey (IHDS) 2015 on castes and their trust in State governments, the judiciary and the police are revealing.

Caste-wise trust in public institutions: In general, the trust in institutions have increased between 2005 and 2012.

• In General: Highest proportion (under half) had only some confidence, under 30% had a great deal of confidence while about a quarter had hardly any confidence.
• OBCs: A much higher proportion displayed a great deal of confidence and a much lower proportion had hardly any confidence.
• SCs: Highest proportion (under 45%) displayed a great deal of confidence, a smaller proportion had some confidence, and a much smaller proportion with hardly any confidence.
• STs: Showed pattern similar to OBCs.

Significance of trust

• Trust impacts income and growth through markets and public institutions.
• Positive relationship with the development of financial markets: Operation of these markets is contingent on the trustworthiness of debtors, as legal methods of recovery of dues fraught with delays.
• Increases the level of cooperation between labour and management: Firms that have unions representing their employees are better able to adapt to new management methods and show better productivity.
• Evidence suggests a strong positive correlation between trust and the quality of the legal system. There is a similar correlation between trust and the quality of governance.

Analysing the variability of trust in institutions: Based on IHDS data, trust in public institutions is measured in terms of levels of confidence: a great deal of confidence, only some confidence and hardly any confidence.

• Confidence in the public institutions:
  • State: A vast majority of households surveyed lacked confidence in State governments in 2012.
  • Judiciary: Large majority reported a great deal of confidence in the judiciary and only an extremely small proportion had hardly any confidence. This is surprising given the judicial overload and prolonged delays.
  • Police: Low proportion had a great deal of confidence in it, a majority had only some confidence and a more than moderate proportion had hardly any confidence.
    • Over 30% has hardly any confidence, with the highest among SC/ST. This is not surprising given rampant corruption and discrimination against lower castes.
• Trust and caste: While affirmative actions (e.g., quotas for SCs/STs/OBCs in education and employment) has benefited, yet they are still among the most deprived and vulnerable to poverty. Despite that, they show increased trust in institutions. Reasons –
  • Success of quota system.
  • State munificence: SCs largely dependent on state munificence whereas STs relatively remain isolated and have limited experience of social safety nets.

Conclusion: Trust in these institutions rose between 2005 and 2012. However, recent accounts indicate a sharp erosion of trust.

• Presumably, because State government policies are far from inclusive, judicial verdicts do not conform to high standards of autonomy and fairness, and police actions violate the rights of citizens.
• While inculcation of initial beliefs is bound to be slow, transition to a policy environment that is inclusive and transparent is daunting too, but growing awareness among the citizens is likely to facilitate it.