The impact of reservations for the Scheduled Castes as village heads (pradhans) is examined on school and governance outcomes. In general, SC reservation is not associated with improved outcomes. The impact differs spatially, based on past history of landlord or non-landlord control under British colonial rule. In historically landlord areas with greater presence of dominant classes and already worse school quality and governance, reservations are associated with no change in outcomes. In the non-landlord areas, reservations are associated with worse outcomes. The findings can be attributed to negative perceptions, discrimination and domination faced by the SCs. For effective formal policy empowerment of the SCs, the attitudes, beliefs and perceptions that dictate the informal rules of individual and social group interactions need to be addressed.
