Archives: Publication

India’s Social and Economic Transformation in the 21st Century

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of India’s social and economic transformation in the decades leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic and explores both resilience and vulnerabilities in Indian society.

It provides an in-depth look into diverse aspects of how Indians live, earn a living and care for their children by examining vital indicators such as poverty, malnutrition, health and marriage and family relationships, among others. Analysing the data from the India Human Development Surveys, it presents a complex picture of India’s transformation and large economic and educational gains, while exploring the reasons why these have not translated into social transformation of a similar magnitude. The volume also describes the backdrop against which the COVID-19 pandemic crippled the Indian economy. In effect, it foreshadows the challenges that need to be addressed on the road to recovery. It argues that in order to reduce the scarring and ensure recovery for all, it will be important to focus on the underlying conditions faced by the most vulnerable sections of the Indian society as policymakers seek to effectively tend to issues of socio-economic inequality and marginalisation in the long run.

Rich in data and analysis, this book will be useful for scholars and researchers of economics, political economy, sociology and development studies.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1| India’s Social and Economic Transformation
Pallavi Choudhuri, Sonalde Desai, Amaresh Dubey

Chapter 2| Why Did Poverty Decline in India?
Carlos Felipe Balcázar, Sonalde Desai, Rinku Murgai, Ambar Narayan

Chapter 3 | Do Income and Income Inequality Have Any Impact on Morbidity? Evidence From the India Human Development Survey
Sohini Paul

Chapter 4| Excess Weight in India
Pushkar Maitra, Nidhiya Menon

Chapter 5 | Does the Growing Private Sector Deliver Schooling for All? Role of Gender, Parental Altruism and Family Wealth
Pushkar Maitra, Sarmistha Pal, Anurag Sharma

Chapter 6 | Private Schooling in India
Suvarna Pande, Amaresh Dubey

Chapter 7| Expectations of Support From Daughters in India
Abhijit Visaria

Chapter 8| Are the Young and the Educated More Likely to Have “Love” Than Arranged Marriage?
Manjistha Banerji

Chapter 9| The Impact of Household Membership in Community-Based Organisations on Child Health and Education in Rural India
Mugdha Vaidya, Meghna Katoch Rana, Nabanita Datta Gupta

Assessing needs for interdisciplinarity in agriculture, nutrition, and health education

Addressing all forms of malnutrition requires multi-sectoral actions. To accelerate progress, post-graduate education – of future researchers, policy-makers and practitioners – that promotes interdisciplinary knowledge and skills is imperative. We report findings from a mixed-methods needs assessment designed to assess enabling and constraining factors to integrated agriculture, nutrition, and health education. An online questionnaire was disseminated among experts in relevant disciplines, followed by focus group discussions among faculty members teaching in post-graduate institutions in low- and middle-income countries. We find that student motivation, instructor background, fixed curricula, and siloes among implementation agencies are important barriers to interdisciplinary education. Experiential learning and collaborations within and across institutions are enabling factors. We present key aspects of an interdisciplinary educational model that consider systemic and institutional realities of specialized institutions and low funding.

Food Environments, Food Security, and Household Food Availability of Circular Migrant Families: A Mixed-Methods Study Among Brick Kiln Laborers in Bihar, India

Background: Circular migration is the dominant pattern of movement in India and is a livelihood strategy used by many food insecure rural households. Repeated shifts in food environments have important implications on household food security and dietary patterns but have not been studied.

Objective: To explore differences in the food environment, food security, and food availability between home and destination spaces.

Methods: Mixed-methods research was conducted among circular migrant families working and residing on brick kilns in the state of Bihar. Utilizing stratified cluster sampling, 2 rounds of cross-sectional data were collected from 2564 families. Additionally, 25 in-depth interviews were conducted with circular migrant parents, kiln owners, and labor contractors. The Food Insecurity Experience Scale was validated for use in our study population. Bivariate analyses were conducted to estimate the association of food insecurity with sociodemographic variables. Qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive thematic methods.

Results: Seventy percent of respondents utilized at least one nonmarket source of food at the origin; at the destination, sources of food were limited to the private market. Despite higher food prices at the destination, perceived food affordability was higher during periods of migration, resulting in improved food security. Tubers, rice, and wheat were typically available in the household daily, whereas fruits, eggs, and dairy were typically unavailable during the week.

Conclusions: Circular migration can enable short-term food security by improving food affordability. Policy frameworks must address the root causes of chronic food insecurity, especially among rural-to-rural circular migrant families.

Keywords: India; diet; food environments; food security; migration.

Mind the gender gap: Here’s how govt initiatives are focusing on empowering women in India

Bank account ownership took a leap over the last decade. But some of the gains stagnated during the pandemic. 2021 Global Findex data show that 78% of women reported having bank accounts. However, 64% did not withdraw any funds during the last 12 months, and 28% reported having an inactive account. Budget 2023 announced the launch of Mahila Samman Bachat Patra Yojana, a savings scheme for women.