Abstract

Government welfare schemes in India are designed to address poverty inequality and social exclusion. However a recurring challenge in policy implementation is the underutilization or outright rejection of such schemes by intended beneficiaries. While logistical issues such as lack of awareness bureaucratic hurdles and infrastructural gaps are often cited an equally critical but underexplored factor is social stigma. This paper investigates how stigma—rooted in caste class gender and perceived notions of dependency—contributes to the rejection or non-participation in government schemes across rural and urban contexts in India. Drawing upon fieldwork in Bihar Rajasthan and Maharashtra along with insights from interviews policy reports and sociological theory the research explores the psychological and cultural dimensions of stigma. It examines how notions of shame pride social identity and fear of discrimination interact with economic rationality in shaping beneficiary decisions. The stu