Adoption and sustained use of cleaner cooking fuels in rural India: a case control study protocol to understand household, network, and organizational drivers

Broadly, there are four caste groupings in India. They are discussed as follows. General caste: Also called open category has no reservation in employment in the central or state government systems. It mainly comprises of three classes out of four in the ancient Hindu Varna system, which are the Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas. Scheduled tribes (STs): These are tribes that have traditionally lived in the forests. They have traditionally been marginalized and not in the mainstream of the society. They are also known as Adivasis, hence called scheduled tribes as they have been added under a “schedule” of the constitution of India. Scheduled Castes (SCs): An economically and socially backward community, they have also been traditionally marginalized. Other Backward castes or OBCs: They are also form a large group that is heterogeneous and has been considered by the constitution of India as being economically and socially backward. OBCs, SCs, and STs are provided with job reservations in the central and also in state government systems to increase their representation in the mainstream society, and to simultaneously improve their economic and social well-being. OBCs, SCs, and STs are normally and collectively referred to as lower castes.