India Social Development Report

How far has Indian really progressed since Independence? This report take stock of the development issues like poverty, unemployment, health, drinking water, sanitation and urban governance, communal relations, local government and decentralization, child labor and social security, marginalized groups and how women far across the social indices. Complete with a social development index that ranks Indian states, this report will be a useful primary source and research tool.

This report highlights that gender inequalities and women's subordination in India are caused by two formidable macro-structures: patriarchy and the exclusion of unpaid work from the macro-economy. The papers have explored pathways to break these structures gradually to achieve gender equality and empower women.

This report highlights that gender inequalities and women's subordination in India are caused by two formidable macro-structures: patriarchy and the exclusion of unpaid work from the macro-economy. Both these structures reinforce each other and negatively impact women's empowerment. Patriarchy imposes subordination on women and forces a disproportionately higher share of unpaid domestic services and unpaid care onto them. This is unfair and unjust - a violation of basic human rights. Other structures like race, religion, and caste cut across these main structures. The selected papers in this report show how patriarchy causes gender inequalities in all critical dimensions of women's life on the one hand, and how unpaid domestic services and unpaid care sustains the macro-economy and its growth on the other. The contributors discuss pathways to integrate unpaid work with the macro-economy such that the strength of patriarchy declines and at the same time gender equality is promoted. To put it differently, unless the structures are addressed by integrating unpaid work, inequalities cannot be addressed effectively. The report emphasizes that this is the only way to move to real macroeconomics. The papers have explored pathways to break these structures gradually to achieve gender equality and empower women. Though the path is challenging, it is feasible to reach the goal of pervasive gender equality.

This report looks at the state of health policies in India and assesses its dynamicsa its failings and triumphs a suggesting, through nuanced essays and empirical data, ways of improving the existing conditions. Comprising four parts a the report focuses on welfare system and its implication for health that includes issues related to legislation, policies and welfare programmes. It evaluates its achievements against the Council for Social Development Index which, having evolved over some years, offers an alternative towards enhancing the state and reach of public health in 21st Century India. The report takes stock of the challenges and hurdles faced by the countryas health system before focusing on a vision of the future of public sector health services and some priority areas such as issues of nutrition, child health, womenas mental stress arising out of ill-health, environmental health in industrial areas and neglect over the turn of the 20th Century. The report concludes with assessing the existing trends in health services and determining the outcome of liberalization and health sector reforms.

Takes A Fresh Book At The Process Of Development Particularly In India, Pakistan And Bangladesh. Analyses The Current Economic, Political And Social Realities In These Countries. Opines That Despite Some Changes These Societies Have Modernised. Has Eight Chapters Ending With Conclusions.

There are groups who oppose development projects that displace people from their lands and livelihoods and demand that such projects should not be undertaken. While this demand is unrealistic, the concern to save people is legitimate. The real issue then is to undertake development in a way that ensures minimum disruption and helps those relocated to share its benefits. This report, thus, shows the way forward and emphasizes the need to adopt credible policies that minimize displacement, properly compensate those relocated to make development possible, and give them a permanent stake in project benefits. Besides these, it takes stock of issues like poverty, unemployment, health, local government and decentralization, child labour, and how women fare across social indices. Complete with a social development index which ranks Indian states, this report will be a useful primary source and research tool.

Why are some places in the world characterized by better social service provision and welfare outcomes than others? In a world in which millions of people, particularly in developing countries, continue to lead lives plagued by illiteracy and ill-health, understanding the conditions that promote social welfare is of critical importance to political scientists and policy makers alike. Drawing on a multi-method study, from the late-nineteenth century to the present, of the stark variations in educational and health outcomes within a large, federal, multiethnic developing country - India - this book develops an argument for the power of collective identity as an impetus for state prioritization of social welfare. Such an argument not only marks an important break from the dominant negative perceptions of identity politics but also presents a novel theoretical framework to understand welfare provision.

This book explores the intersectional perspective of sustainable social development in key sectors, such as education and skill development, health and nutrition, gender concerns, and food security and agriculture in India. It delves into contemporary concerns of poverty, employment and inclusive growth, and social marginalisation and inequality. The volume brings together the contributions of various stakeholders from academia, research organisations, NGOs and policymakers to address social-sector issues and sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the Indian context. It reflects on policies, strategies and performance in the context of Constitutional goals and the commitment to global SDGs and examines the character and contours of social development in the country. Comprehensive and topical, this volume will be useful to scholars, researchers, policymakers and practitioners of development studies, political studies, sociology and development economics.