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Poor people in India routinely have to wait for short-term employment, basic services and subsidized goods. Based on fieldwork in Delhi, this paper describes how this waiting blends into an environment where men are underemployed and women try to make ends meet by engaging in contentious public activities. While negotiating destabilized gender roles, the latter downplay their wait for services and describe much of their paid and unpaid work as 'mere' waiting and just 'passing time'. In complex responses, they sometimes internalize the relations of power that keep them waiting, while subverting them on other occasions. Exploring what these women hide or minimize brings to light a host of activities that question our understanding of the boundaries of labour, idleness and the broader work of social reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojna (AB-PMJAY) as a financial risk protection scheme intends to reduce catastrophic health expenditure (CHE), especially among poor. The current study was carried out to assess the utility of AB-PMJAY in terms of reduction in CHE from before and after admission in a tertiary hospital in the northern state of India. Methodology: It was a hospital-based cross-sectional study carried out from August 2020 to October 2021 at a public tertiary hospital of Himachal Pradesh, India. Data were collected from surgery- and medicine-allied (SA and MA) specialties. Along with socio-demographic details, information for total monthly family expenditure (TMFE), out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), and indirect illness-related expenditure (IIE) was recorded before and after hospital admission. CHE was considered as more than 10.0% OOPE of THFE and more than 40.0% of capacity to pay (CTP). Results: A total of 336 participants with a mean age of 46 years were recruited (MA: 54.6%). The majority (-93.0%) of participants had illness of fewer than 6 months. The mean TMFE was observed to be INR 4213.1 (standard deviation: 2483.7) and found to be similar across specialties. The OOPE share of TMFE declined from 76.1% (before admission) to 30.0% (after admission). Before admission, CHE was found among 65.5% (10.0% of THFE) and 54.2% (40.0% of CTP) participants. It reduced to about 29.0% (based on both THE and CTP) after admission to hospital. Conclusion: AB-PMJAY scheme found to be useful in reducing CHE in a tertiary hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insomnia is a serious health problem among older adults and, if untreated, is linked to a high morbidity rate and decreased quality of life. There is limited empirical evidence on Insomnia and its treatment-seeking exclusively among older adults (60 plus years) using representative data in India. This study assesses the prevalence and predictors of Insomnia and its treatment-seeking among older adults. Methods: Data gathered through the nationally-representative Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI); Wave 1 (2017-18) was used for the analysis. Specifically, information from older adults aged 60 and above for whom complete information on insomnia was available (n- 31,464) was considered for the analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to check the adjusted effects of insomnia's socio-demographic and economic predictors and its treatment-seeking status. Stata was used for the data analysis with a 5% significance level. Results: 37% of older adults had insomnia. Increasing age, female gender, living without a spouse, illiteracy, chronic health conditions, nutritionally underweight, physically inactive status, lack of exposure to mass media, Hindu religion, non-tribal status, and rural residence were significantly associated with insomnia. 3% of older adults sought treatment for insomnia. Not seeking treatment for insomnia was associated with male gender, exposure to mass media, physical activity, lack of chronic health issues, tribal status, living in a rural area, and being economically disadvantaged. Conclusions: A sizable number of older adults have insomnia, and the prevalence varies by their socioeconomic, demographic, and health status. Many modifiable risk factors like low education, chronic health conditions, smoking, being underweight, physical inactivity, and lack of exposure to mass media are identified. Treatment-seeking for Insomnia is further inadequate, enhancing the older adult's vulnerability to various morbidities. Policy and program intervention to raise awareness about insomnia, including early identification and pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment, will ensure better health and welfare of older adults. Estimations are based on self-report questionnaires; therefore, the possibility of recall bias and under-reporting cannot be ignored. Moreover, the estimation of insomnia may vary depending on various clinical definitions. However, a large sample size from a recent nationally representative survey with a robust sampling design is the strength of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indian economy's growth depends heavily on the banking sector. In recent years, the banking business has undergone numerous changes. The RBI launched small finance banks as a banking initiative to encourage financial inclusion in India. Small finance banks offer services to financially excluded populations like farmers, labourers' low-income people, etc. This study is related to the period of six years from 2016-17 to 2021-22. The study uses descriptive statistics and the CAMEL model for the evaluation of financial performance. Descriptive statistics are analysed with the help of standard deviation and ANOVA. The CAMEL model analysis assists in determining how efficiently banks have performed in terms of each of the significant ratios including: (i) Capital Adequacy, (ii) Assets Quality, (iii) Management Effectiveness, (iv) Earning Quality, and (v) Liquidity Ratios. Based on the ANOVA the study concludes that the results of the selected banks have similar financial performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worldwide explosion of social welfare has been described as the "quiet revolution" of our time. This paper analyses the expansion of social welfare in India during the early part of the 2000s. What explains this expansion of encompassing social welfare in India, following a history of disparate and fragmented social policies? The answer, I argue, lies in recognizing the importance of the "politics of the poor," the ensemble of negotiations that encompass both electoral participation and contentious politics vis-à-vis the political institutions in India. The paper develops this argument by drawing together insights from discursive institutionalism, Indian politics, and the politics of welfare literature. Doing so enables me to examine the ways in which poor people's political practices were interpreted by India's parliamentarians to justify the legislation of India's flagship social welfare program the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. I analyze the discourses communicated through 78 parliamentary debates in English and Hindi to enact the law. I blend this analysis with process tracing of electoral behavior of India's poor and the Maoist insurrection that exploded in the country's poorest districts at the turn of the century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A leader who inspires, facilitates and leads people to outperform themselves and bring phenomenal changes on an individual and social canvas is recognized as a transformational leader (TL). TL focuses on innovative methods and processes to improve the efficiency of subordinates. Experts believe that transformational leadership management is more effective than pragmatic leadership. This study focuses on the traits of a TL. Mr. Dhirendra Kumar, Managing Director of Jharcraft, who set out on a mission to lead people to revive the lost art and craft in the state of Jharkhand, India. The case highlights how Kumar's leadership style aligns with the four components of transformational leadership suggested by Bass (1985), i.e. idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation and individual considerations. Design/methodology/approach: The study employs a qualitative approach to comprehend the theory of transformational leadership. First of all, an in-depth analysis of transformational leadership theory was conducted using secondary data. The findings of several researchers on the basis of their contribution to the development of transformational leadership theory were analyzed. Based on this, the Bass transformational theory framework was selected. Primary data were collected by conducting interviews with Mr. Dhirendra Kumar, Managing Director of Jharcraft. Findings: Transformational leadership is a leadership style that can inspire positive changes in those who follow. TLs are generally energetic, enthusiastic and passionate. As per Bass's transformational leadership components, Kumar challenged the status quo and imbibed creativity and skill into local artisans. Artisans were imparted training by experts from the National Institute of Fashion and Technology and provided intellectual stimulation. Kumar offered support and encouragement to individual followers. In order to foster supportive relationships, Kumar articulated a clear vision to the followers. Kumar served as a role model for followers. Because followers trust and respect the leader, they emulate this individual and internalize the individual's ideals. Research limitations/implications: This study only considered the traits portrayed by Dhirendra Kumar during Kumar's tenure as the Managing Director of Warcraft, and the data were collected at one single point in time. Future research may consider Kumar's entire service journey and study factors that influenced his role as a TL. Practical implications: Students will be able to learn and understand how a TL can bring positive change at the grassroots level. Social implications: This case focuses on how a TL's efforts led to the societal upliftment of poor people and made them capable. Originality/value: Given the importance of transformational leadership in today's organizational context, this study builds a knowledge base to understand factors for transformational leadership and traits exhibited by TLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a population of over 1.4 billion surpassing China's in 2023, India has now become the world's most populous country. Despite its robust IT and service sectors propelling it to become the fifth‐largest economy, India still grapples with low GDP per capita and significant poverty. The paradoxical nature of India's development necessitates a closer examination of its governance. Over 90% of the Indian population works outside the purview of formal democratic institutions and capital‐intensive economic sectors. Challenges arise from the need to sustain a large poor population with limited resources while catering to the formal sector that generates more than half of its GDP. India's governance exhibits a deep mismatch between its institutional design, politics and developmental needs. This article explores the duality of informal and formal sectors underlying challenges in Indian governance by way of the Berggruen Governance Index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly affected both existing and undiagnosed Tuberculosis (TB) patients worldwide. The impact of the pandemic on the treatment outcomes of these patients in India remains unclear. Aim: To assess the difference in TB treatment outcomes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in an economically disadvantaged urban area in Southern India. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted at a TB Unit in South Bangalore, Southern India, serving a population of 2,50,000 from January 2022 to December 2022. Purposive sampling was employed to select 516 patients who had registered for TB treatment during the years 2019 and 2020. The socio-demographic details and TB profiles of the patients were collected and tabulated. Treatment outcomes were classified according to World Health Organisation (WHO) definitions after a case record analysis. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel 2018 and analysed using Open Epi software. Descriptive statistics, such as mean and standard deviation, were used to report socio-demographic profiles, and the Chisquare test was utilised to evaluate the differences in treatment outcomes. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study included a total of 516 subjects. There were fewer cases registered in 2020 (n=202), especially after the first quarter, compared to the number registered in 2019 (n=314). The majority of the cases during both years were new instances of microbiologically confirmed pulmonary TB with no co-morbidities. Treatment success rates were 85.35% in 2019 and 88.61% in 2020, which was not statistically significant. Conclusion: There was a noticeable reduction in the number of cases registered during 2020, indicating that the COVID-19 pandemic had a definite effect on TB case notification. However, treatment success rates increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase in the treatment success rate from 85.35% to 88.61% could be attributed to the decrease in the number of registered cases during the pandemic. The study thus found no significant impact on TB treatment success rate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study aims to examine the impact of social assistance schemes introduced by the Indian government on poverty alleviation in urban slums. Design/methodology/approach: To accomplish the study's objectives, primary data were collected from 585 beneficiaries of government schemes operating in India's northwestern state using a multistage sampling technique (Punjab). The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) technique reduced the total dataset to its minimum factors. Then, using second-order confirmatory factor analysis, the data's validity and reliability were determined. The data were analyzed using statistical techniques such as one-way ANOVA, t-test and structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings: The study's findings indicate that social assistance provided by the Government of India has a direct and substantial influence on poverty alleviation in urban slums. The study demonstrates how access to basic credit financial services through social assistance programmes has improved the lives of urban poor households living in slums and assisted them in escaping poverty. Research limitations/implications: The investigation was undertaken among a few limitations. First, the in-depth investigation of the study is restricted to only the northwestern state of India solely because of limited resources and time availability. Second, the study focuses primarily on the perspectives of beneficiaries of the social assistance schemes in India. Still, it might be expanded in the future to include additional stakeholders such as bank executives, business colleagues and municipal town panchayats. Practical implications: Due to policymakers' increased emphasis on poor households living in urban slums, this topic is critical for studying many issues. Social implications: The research explores gaps in social welfare schemes to direct policymakers and government authorities to take appropriate steps to aid the urban poor people in sliding out of poverty. Originality/value: By examining the influence of the Indian government's social welfare schemes on poverty reduction in slums, this study contributes to the literature on public assistance schemes and poverty alleviation. This article can assist policymakers in developing nations in increasing financial capability among disadvantaged urban families on a national and international level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rag picker, is a term for someone who makes a living by rummaging through refuse in the streets to collect material for salvage. Scraps of cloth and paper could be turned into cardboard, broken glass could be melted down and reused, and even dead cats and dogs could be skinned to make clothes. In India alone, there are approximately 4 million women in this profession. However, this huge number in no way implies that it is a comfortable profession in any way. Some common problems faced by the rag pickers are, Poor and marginalized, Unhealthy environment, Poor living condition and Victims of abuse. The main purpose of this paper is to find out the extent of population engaged in rag picking world wide and the nature of social, health problems they face. The paper also reflects on the interventions tried out to uplift the rag pickers in different parts of the world. This study aims to hold out a systematic scientific review of national and international literature reporting different skill and vocational training programmes and elucidate their effectiveness in improving the job opportunities and living conditions of various marginalized, vulnerable and underprivileged people group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India's health care suffers from high out-of-pocket medical expenses that lead to a higher financial burden on poor people. To reduce the health cost burden, the government of India has initiated many governments funded insurance schemes since 2000. Private health insurance also flourished, but the coverage is limited to wealthier households. Many researchers have published many scientific publications on this research domain, but the bibliometric analysis of scientific publications is missing. We have relied on the 'SCOPUS' database for data collection based on the wider availability of literature. 761 documents extracted were journal articles, published between 2000 and 2021 followed by certain inclusion and exclusion criteria. Biblioshiny package of R-Studio has been used for data analysis. Our analysis reflect upon various aspects of Bibliographic analysis like number of articles published, cited, country wise scientific production etc. Our results also reflect on very few studies that relate to Poverty, income, young adults, aged, adolescents, and children, where there is further scope for research. We found that the health insurance-related publication rate has increased over the period. But it requires more research especially the implementation of health insurance mechanisms from the health system perspective. The study will be a policy document to find the research gaps in the healthcare insurance domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted people's livelihoods worldwide to an unprecedented magnitude, the most affected being the socially and economically disadvantaged and marginalized communities, including the transgender people that constitute one of the most vulnerable sections that are often subjected to discriminated in various sectors such as education, health, housing, and livelihood opportunities. The present study attempts to offer insights into the impact of the pandemic on the livelihood of transgender people in India, given that the pandemic adversely affected their primary sources of livelihood, such as begging, sex-work, singing, and dancing, due mainly to the restrictive measures: lockdown, shutdown, social/physical distancing, etc., imposed by government authorities to curb the spread of the virus, in turn depriving them of their livelihood choices and rendering them even more vulnerable. This study draws from twelve transgender respondents in the city of Bhubaneswar, India recruited through the snowball method and uses thematic analysis of qualitative data obtained through telephonic interviews. The study finds that the pandemic-induced measures have negatively affected the lives and livelihood of transgender people during this time of crisis. Despite the government’s sustained efforts in providing temporary livelihood options and monetary supports during the crisis, the transgender people continued to remain marginalized. Approaches to making them self-sufficient over a longer term and empowering them financially would have been of more significant impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article summarizes a trial that enrolled poor persons aged 55 years or older who were living alone and reports differences in functional impairment, depression, and food insecurity scores after receipt of a small unconditional cash transfer, telephone-based cognitive behavioral therapy, both, or neither. Visual Abstract. Effects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Cash Transfers on Older Persons Living Alone in India: This article summarizes a trial that enrolled poor persons aged 55 years or older who were living alone and reports differences in functional impairment, depression, and food insecurity scores after receipt of a small unconditional cash transfer, telephone-based cognitive behavioral therapy, both, or neither. Background: A growing number of older persons in developing countries live entirely alone and are physically, mentally, and financially vulnerable. Objective: To determine whether phone-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or a cash transfer reduce functional impairment, depression, or food insecurity in this population. Design: Randomized controlled trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04225845; American Economic Association RCT Registry: AEARCTR-0007582). Setting: Tamil Nadu, India, 2021. Participants: 1120 people aged 55 years and older and living alone. Interventions: A 6-week, phone-based CBT and a 1-time cash transfer of 1000 rupees (U.S. $12 at market exchange rates) were evaluated in a factorial design. Measurements: The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS), the Geriatric Depression Scale, and food security, all measured 3 weeks after CBT for 977 people and 3 months after for 932. Surveyors were blind to treatment assignment. Results: The WHODAS score (scale 0 to 48, greater values representing more impairment) decreased between baseline and the 3-week follow-up by 2.92 more (95% CI, −5.60 to −0.23) in the group assigned cash only than in the control group, and the depression score (ranging from 0 to 15, higher score indicating more depressive symptoms) decreased by 1.01 more (CI, −2.07 to 0.06). These effects did not persist to the 3-month follow-up, and CBT alone and the 2 together had no significant effects. There were no effects on food security. Limitations: The study cannot say whether more sustained or in-person therapy would have been effective, how results would translate outside of the COVID-19 period, or whether results in the consented sample differ from those in a larger population. Primary outcomes were self-reported. Conclusion: Among older people living alone, a small cash transfer was effective in alleviating short-term (3 weeks) functional impairment, produced a small but not clinically or statistically significant reduction in depression, and had no effect on food security. There were no short-term effects from CBT or the 2 interventions together. None of the interventions showed any effect at 3 months. Primary Funding Source: National Institute on Aging (NIA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay addresses the intersection between the Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tik-Tok and Pinterest social media platforms and a contemporary religious leader/teacher who exploited them to rise from subalternity to the status of a deified celebrity. It examines his underprivileged disciples and followers and rival formal and informal levels, within Indian Sufi circles. Employing a combined perspective of ethnography, media studies and textual analysis, I discuss the transformations engendered by this social media celebrity and the impact of neo-liberalism on religious teacher–disciple (peeri–mureedi) relations. I show that this transformation involved a commodification of peeri–mureedi relations, leading to a neoliberal morphing of religious practices into marketable products. In so doing, I provide a critical reading of Mazzarella's social media as "re-enlightened" or "inclusive capitalism" that gives voice, agency and new economic possibilities to capitalism's most marginal subjects, who aspire to break the grip of what I term the "economies of despair". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Rural Indians cannot rely on official procedures to obtain social welfare entitlements. • The rural poor make claims on local politicians to access welfare. • Claims-making by poor people in rural India combine elements of 'clientelism', 'citizenship' and 'political society'. • An agonistic account of claims-making recognises its heterogeniety while appreciating the importance of both consent and contestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leprosy is historically one of the most stigmatized diseases known to exist in human history. As per a 2013 report, India has the highest number of leprosy cases globally. Among all the new cases of leprosy reported from the world over, India, Brazil and Indonesia account for more than 80% of the 200,000 afflicted world-wide1. If the disease is left untreated, it can cause progressive and permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs, and eyes leading to disability. Towards the end of 2019, there are 178,3712 cases, which corresponds to 22.9 cases per million population. Leprosy as a disease has both medical as well as social connotations attached to it. People who get affected by leprosy are often socially ostracized and banished from society. Therefore, these people live in a selfestablished community to support one another. These communities are not only spatially segregated but are also socially excluded. Thus, the people living in these communities are at a social disadvantage and are economically marginalized. The present study is an exploratory qualitative study, using phenomenological approach. The sample of 60 adults and 70 children was selected through purposive sampling. Data is collected from the field using semi-structured interviews. Data is transcribed, coded, represented and analyzed thematically. The findings of the study provides insights not only into the social, cultural and political life experiences and everyday practices of people and children and also how the existenting social stigma creates and deepens the binaries and hierarchies existing in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper estimates the impacts of Livestock Asset Transfers on the livelihoods of the ultra-poor in West Bengal, India. The programme provides the female members of ultra-poor households with livestock assets as grants. We find that the intervention increases per capita monthly income by Rs 1061 (122% increase). It also increases the food expenditures of households and enables them to secure enough food to eat at least two meals a day. Furthermore, the programme also increases the number/amount of owned livestock assets, poultry, and cultivable lands amid the treatment households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the nuances of the experiences of waiting for state-issued documents and state welfare. Waiting as an everyday experience forms an important aspect of the relationship between socio-economically marginalised groups and the state institutions. In order to examine this relationship, this paper draws upon eight interviews, conducted during December 2017 to February 2018 and in January 2019, among pheriwale. Pheriwale are self-employed traders, in Delhi, India, who collect huge amounts of second-hand/used-clothes and sell them forward to make a living. They largely work in highly precarious informal work environments, lack social security and depend on irregular income. However, as residents of India, they are also regulated through various state measures such as being registered within the national biometric database, as bank account holders and as recipients of public welfare provisions. By focusing on the experiences of pheriwale, findings show that waiting is shaped through intersecting hierarchies of gender, class and caste in the context of India. This article elucidates that a conceptualisation of waiting cannot overlook how the act of waiting for state-issued documents is tied into politics of recognition and redistribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hip arthroplasty made a revolution the field of orthopedics as the earlier thought of painful conditions like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis could now be solved by replacing the damaged joint with an artificial joint which dramatically improves the pain of the patient and the person who could barely walk due to pain starts walking again pain free. This magical medical innovation has changed lives of many worldwide. As the mean life span of the population is increasing, the diseases attributed to the age like osteoarthritis is also increasing and hence the scope for joint replacement is boundless. This study was an observational study to study the socio-demographic profile of the patients undergoing hip replacement arthroplasty in a tertiary hospital in central India. Methodology: This study was a record based observational study conducted retrospectively in the department of Orthopaedics in a tertiary care hospital in central India from 1st May 2021 to 30th April 2022. Sample Size of 50 patients were analyzed and pat clinical data was used from hospital records. Observation And Results: A total of 50 patients were studied in total. Out of them 30 were males and 20 were females. The mean age of the patients was 60.2 years. Out of the 50, 20 patients had yellow ration card i.e. belonging to lower socio economic status while 20 had saffron ration card and only 10 had white ration card. Majority of the population was Hindu (40%) followed by Muslims (30%), Buddhist (24%) and 6% were Christians, Sikhs and Jains. Majority of the population was educated up to 10th standard while 16% were illiterate. Osteoarthritis was the most common indication for hip joint replacement (70%). Conclusion: Due to better schemes for the poor, facilities, and equipment and the will to serve the poor, old age poor people can also get costly operations like hip joint replacement done to alleviate them from their sufferings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial equity in urban facilities or service distribution is considered as a critical determinant of the quality of urbanization. Spatial equity simply means the presence of adequate facilities and equal proximity. Many initiatives have mostly focused on one type of facility, obviating the holistic understanding of the equity of distribution of all basic facilities in cities. Moreover, the perceptions of the citizens in the process of planning are hardly considered. In this paper, an integrated facility-satisfaction index is presented to evaluate the balance between the distribution of facilities and the level of residents' satisfaction derived from those facilities. This method has taken all possible urban facilities and categorized them as educational, health, financial, recreation, and others. The per capita facility availability is calculated by incorporating the spatial distribution of urban facilities, the service range of facilities, population distribution, and weight. The proper weights have been given by employing the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The satisfaction index has been derived from the citizens' perception of each facility, marked on a 5-point Likert scale during the field survey. The paired-sample t-test demonstrated that there is a significant difference between the facility availability and satisfaction index at the significance level of 0.05. The application of the method is demonstrated in fast urbanizing Barasat city, West Bengal, India. Based on the degree of facility-satisfaction differences or correspondences, the entire region has been categorized into four zones viz. satisfied people with favorable facility availability, unsatisfied people with poor facility availability, unsatisfied people with relatively high facility availability, and satisfied people with relatively low facility availability. The pattern has been validated by identifying spatial clusters and spatial outliers of facility availability and satisfaction using local Moran's I. This approach can help a city to distribute the facilities to satisfy the citizens of all corners which will help to overcome the constant problems of policy decisions without adequate and reliable information about the actual demand of the residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the adverse effects of growing water scarcity on the lives and livelihoods of poor people have become a major policy concern in India. This paper reviews the effectiveness of macro-level policies for rainwater conservation and critically examines micro-level local community institutions for the sustainable management of traditional water bodies. Using Ostrom's design principles and qualitative data from three different multipurpose tanks, the study finds that management decisions at the local level have benefited few influential members of local communities and deprived a large number of poor households from resource uses, making the local institutions ineffective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teachers' work in India is impacted by the ongoing restructuring of school education that incorporates simultaneous attempts at reform and regulation. Child-friendly assessment policy instituted by the local bureaucracy leads to intensification of teachers' administrative roles, drawing their attention away from critical pedagogic ones. Limitations in policy interpretation are found to be in response to the official discourse of efficiency that manifests in performative measures of accountability inconsistent with the intended reforms. In this ethnographic case study in an urban middle school for poor, teachers' attempts to comply with instruments of accountability while adapting to changing pedagogic relations with their students and achieve coherence in their identities are examined. The paper draws attention to the contrasts between models of good teaching held by teachers, vis-à-vis the official discourse. It argues for a reworking of the existing model of accountability towards incorporating a cultural-political conception of pedagogy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social capital is often argued an important non-monetized capital for poor people which can be instrumental for poverty eradication and overall economic development. This paper investigates these claims for informal workers. Based on data from a primary survey in Hooghly district of West Bengal, India, an individual level composite social capital index is calculated considering the structural-relational-cognitive dimensions of social capital. Then OLS method has been used to test the impact of social capital on income with respect to the socioeconomic condition of responders. The findings suggest that the role of social capital to improve income is limited by the poor socioeconomic condition and therefore the optimistic view about the role of social capital in poverty eradication should be treated cautiously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper attempts to measure the state-wise impact of Prime Minister's Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) in 30 states and 6 union territories of India for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018; and tries to develop a state-wise plan for geographical expansion of outlets optimizing the overall impact of the scheme. Design/methodology/approach: The state-wise impact factor is calculated using demographic penetration of the scheme in rural areas, demographic penetration of the scheme in urban areas, percentage of accounts with Rupay cards and average balance in these accounts. The impact factor is postulated to be a linear function of literacy, per capita GDP, demographic and geographic penetration of banks and the number of poor people. The weights for the sub-parameters are derived through principal component analysis. A generalized linear model with heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation consistency method for estimation of the equation with robust standard errors is used. Findings: It is found that the scheme has been more effective in the states with higher levels of illiteracy which is contrary to the findings of existing studies where illiteracy is identified as a barrier to financial inclusion. A state-wise plan for geographical expansion of outlets is proposed with a view to optimizing the overall impact of the scheme, along with suggestions for improvement. Research limitations/implications: The data for ATMs and bank mitras are available for some of the years, for some states and hence missing data were estimated using extrapolation or on an average basis. Furthermore, the panel data are available for three years making the period of panel small. These aspects might have affected the efficacy of our estimates. Originality/value: The paper evaluates the newly launched ambitious program PMJDY by the Government of India (GoI), it will have far reaching impact on financial inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study is a low-cost community mental health task-sharing model driven by university students to strengthen the mental health workforce in poor resource settings. This article presents the feasibility of a stepped referral model using the community health workforce and university students. The primary feasibility objective is to detect and refer people with mental illness from the community using a task-sharing approach. Methods: We tested the model using a cross-sectional, one-phase door-knock survey in three geographically defined locations in Kerala, India, between May and July 2019. Students surveyed 549 residents above 18 years of age who consented to participate in the study to detect depressive symptoms and suicidality. The feasibility of the current model was evaluated based on four criteria: (a) identification and deployment of untapped human resources, (b) coordination of community health resources, (c) the acceptability of stepped referral pathways, and (d) identification of implementation challenges. Results: The mean age of the participants was 38.8, and more than 62% of the respondents were women. The results showed that 11.29%, 8.38%, and 4.91% of people reported mild, moderate, and severe levels of depression, respectively, and suicidal thoughts were found in 6.9% and suicidal ideation in 1.8%. The odds of depression were higher among females compared to males (OR: 1.64 (0.75–2.52), poor people (OR: 2.01 (1.14–2.88), and people with chronic illnesses (OR: 2.03 (1.24–2.81). The agreement of the findings with professional-administered research validated the strategy's efficiency. Twenty-seven patients with severe/extreme degrees of depression were sent for high-intensity interventions led by the mental health team, whereas 135 individuals with mild and above depression were referred for low-intensity interventions. Conclusions: The newly recruited mental health workforce-driven screenings were acceptable and effective in detecting mental illness in the community population. We tested the care coordination systems and processes in creating referral pathways for the detected patients. Further, task-sharing stepped referral model will be tested in five panchayats (the lowest tier of local self-government) before replicating the model across India through Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty is multifaceted. The global poverty profile shows 41% of multidimensionally poor people living in South Asian countries. Though castes and tribes are a more prevalent line of social stratification in India, and their socio-economic characteristics also vary remarkably, hardly any study has explored these dimensions while analysing multidimensional poverty in India. Hence, this study attempts to assess the multidimensional status of poverty among the social groups in India. National Family Health Survey, 2015–16 (NFHS-4) is a source of rich information on 579,698 households' well-being for this analysis. Alkire- Foster technique was applied to decompose the Multidimensional Poverty Index (M0) across its dimensions and indicators for all the social groups. Three broad dimensions of deprivation–Health, Education and Standard of Living–include 12 indicators, guided by the poverty literature, data availability and the country's sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There were three main findings in this study: (1) Scheduled Tribes (STs) are the most disadvantaged subgroup in India with remarkably high values of headcount (H = 0.444;), intensity (A = 0.486), and M0 (0.216), followed by Scheduled Castes (SCs) (H = 0.292; A = 0.473; M0 = 0.138), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) (H = 0.245; A = 0.465; M0 = 0.114); and Others category is the most privileged with very low values of H = 0.149, A = 0.463, and M0 = 0.069; (2) STs contribute nearly twice their population share for both H and M0, and the SCs contribution is also noticeably higher than their population share; (3) States located in the central and eastern regions of India have the higher H, A and M0 for all the social groups. This suggests that there is a need for a thorough assessment of poverty at specific levels to uncover the poverty situation in society, improve the effectiveness of evidence-based planning and effective policymaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do poor people love their children less? In the case of child laborers, this seemingly straightforward question has generated a range of complex responses. This includes research within the value of children (VOC) framework with its tendency to pathologize parents by framing discussions on children's labor within household-based economic decision-making. In a stark departure from this framework, this article, focused on India, foregrounds the key role played by post-independence development policies in naturalizing child labor. It offers the 'politics of deferral' as an alternate analytic to draw attention to both the incremental as well as the exclusionary logics that underlie the Indian state's efforts to eradicate child labor through schooling. To what extent does a country like India – where state policies have largely failed to substantively separate children from labor – compel us to realign the current depoliticized, ahistorical and binary (between the economic and the sentimental) framing of children's value privileged within VOC demographic research? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expanded state-subsidised housing programmes in middle-income countries raise questions about the displacement and socio-spatial marginalisation of poor households. Examining these questions through people's experiences of resettlement indicates the importance of mobility to their lives. Drawing on a mixed-method comparative study of Ahmedabad, Chennai and Johannesburg, we ask: How does the relocation of low-income households to urban peripheries reshape the links between their physical and socio-economic mobility, and how does this impact on their ability to build secure urban futures? Experiences of families moving to five peripheral settlements indicate two linked challenges to the social and economic mobility of the peripheralised urban poor: first, their immediate and individual ability to be mobile within the city and second, the longer-term social mobility of their households. While trajectories towards secure urban citizenship for all remain a policy aspiration, housing policies and practices are placing this on hold or even reversing this, with mobility constraints locking many low-income groups into marginality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite recent advances in treatment, awareness regarding stroke remains low. Only a fraction of eligible patients reach hospital within the window period for thrombolysis. Aim: To assess the public awareness of stroke symptoms, risk factors and access to treatment which will help to design effective and targeted stroke education programs. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional hospital-based survey was conducted in the neurology outpatient department in Government Medical College, Trivandrum, Kerala, India from October 2020 to March 2021. Adult relatives of patients, attending the neurology outpatient department, were included in the study. Relatives of patients who had current or previous stroke and individuals who had a personal history of stroke were excluded. Participants had to fill out a structured study questionnaire adapted to local socio-cultural practices assessing awareness of organ involved in stroke, warning symptoms, risk factors and treatment seeking behaviour. Descriptive analysis, Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to analyse awareness about organ involved in stroke, signs and symptoms, risk factors and treatment for stroke. Results: A total of 700 completed questionnaires were collected from the respondents. More than 80% of respondents belonged to the low income group and were from rural areas. Overall, 43.3% of the subjects could not identify the brain as the organ identified in stroke, and 28.9% were able to identify only one symptom of stroke. The most common warning symptom of stroke recognised was difficulty in speaking (59.4%). Hypertension was the most common risk factor for stroke identified (77.7%). Total 31.6% were able to identify only one risk factor for stroke, and 82.4% patients were aware that stroke requires immediate treatment with majority preferring to consult the nearest doctor. Only 15.9% of respondents were aware of the stroke helpline. Only 55.9% of respondents were aware about ambulance services in their region. Conclusion: This study demonstrated low awareness regarding common risk factors like diabetes and smoking on increasing stroke risk. Knowledge regarding stroke helplines, ambulance services and need to rush to hospital emergency department was low. Public stroke education programs should focus on reducing the knowledge gap in these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical tourists from neighboring states and countries, most notably Myanmar, have flocked to India in recent years. India's top medical professionals and institutions are vying for out-ofcountry patients as part of the Indian government's Act East Policy. International medical tourism is not a new concept, but its recent meteoric rise in popularity certainly is. People from poorer countries used to have to travel to more developed countries in order to get advanced medical treatment. Healthcare consumers in the developed world are increasingly traveling to poor countries for treatment because they perceive medical care to be of greater quality and lower cost there. India's expanding status as a top destination for medical tourists is having a positive impact on the country's economy, society, and culture. New employment, increased tourism revenue, and enhanced local quality of life brought about by better infrastructure and education all fall under this category. Current medical facilities in India are cutting edge, and their staffs of physicians and nurses are among the best in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has decimated the lives and livelihoods of people worldwide. The impact of COVID‐19 has been especially devastating for low‐income families in rural areas of India. Soon after the nationwide lockdown was announced, food insecurity became pervasive in rural areas, as many families relied on daily wage work to fund necessities. By providing cash transfers and additional foodgrains, Indian policymakers acted swiftly to reduce the financial impact on family income and consumption. This paper investigates the factors affecting rural families' participation in the cash transfer program and the effect of government cash transfers on food insecurity. Results indicate that India's government cash transfer program decreased moderate food insecurity by 2.4% and severe food insecurity by about 0.92% [EconLit Citations: O12, I31, I32, I38]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Khare and Varman present a compellingly pessimistic analysis of the plight of the poor in India. The dilemmas of the poor are often exacerbated by large corporations seeking to find ways to market products to impoverished emerging market consumers.  In India, consumers are frequently hurt by these initiatives, small retailers may suffer, while corruption and trickery by petty bureaucrats and ruthless landlords help the rich get richer at the expense of the poor.  The article by Khare and Varman is a scathing indictment based on detailed ethnographic evidence but it reveals only a fraction of the disadvantages and traps of disempowerment facing those Indians living lives of great precarity.  In this comment, we seek to build upon Khare and Varman’s insightful analysis both in order to reinforce their conclusions about the Kafkaesque existence of India’s poor and to introduce some further considerations and complications that make the quagmire even more entrapping.  We focus on four sources of these problems:  patriarchy, bureaucracy  and corruption, class and caste power and hierarchies, and uneven and inadequate infrastructure. We also highlight some largely individual and non-government initiatives that may offer hope of escaping this quagmire for the poor. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Using a qualitative approach, this study aimed to undertake an in-depth exploration of the experiences of COVID-19 patients and their significant others among the economically weaker sections in Kashmir. The study was conducted on 18 participants of different households solely from rural Kashmir while using the purposive sampling technique to recruit the participants and the principle of data saturation to determine the sample size. Data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed through Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis framework. From the data analysis, six overarching themes of diagnosis, healthcare, treatment, survival thereof, social support and stigma were arrived at, which delineated the direct or indirect experiences of participants with COVID-19. The findings of the study revealed that the economically weaker sections of rural Kashmir are deprived of requisite healthcare facilities, which further intensifies their vulnerabilities to COVID-19 and associated health issues. They lie at the core of acute health disadvantage amid the COVID-19 crisis, and are hence drifted toward extreme marginality and socioeconomic adversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selling of Parle-G biscuit recorded the highest sales among all biscuit companies operating in the Indian FMCG market during the lockdown period of India. The 1st quarter (April-June) audited sales of Parle-G of the financial year 2020-2021 broke all the records of past 9 decades sales i.e. for the period of 1929 to 2020 since from the inception of the company:‘Parle Products’ followed by selling Parle-G biscuit brand having a maximum retail price of INR ₹5 & INR ₹2 in the biscuit category products. This proposed teaching case searches for answers like how come Parle-G had set the record by selling even extremely low-priced biscuit pack sizes like INR ₹5 & INR ₹2 in spite of the pandemic and lockdown time? An attempt has also been provided in this case study to underline how the poor people had been impacted by the Parle-G biscuit product during the unprecedented pandemic. This case also highlights the crucial factors which had enabled Parle-G for setting the sales record and enjoying a substantial market share in the biscuit segment in India during the aforesaid period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem definition: Inspired by India's challenges in importing pulses, we study the negotiation of government-to-government food importing contracts, with a focus on ad hoc and forward negotiations with multiple suppliers (henceforth referred to as multiple-sourcing negotiations). Academic/practical relevance: We are the first to comprehensively study ad hoc and forward multiple-sourcing negotiations for food importing. Such problems are widespread, especially in developing nations, and thus the research can be relevant to the wellbeing of large underprivileged populations. Methodology: We develop an analytical negotiation model in the Nash bargaining framework and adopt the Nash-in-Nash framework to analyze multiple-sourcing negotiations. Results: We find that while forward negotiations are not necessarily better than ad hoc negotiations for the buyer, it would be true with sufficiently many suppliers. When facing a supplier pool, we show that it may be optimal to mix forward and ad hoc suppliers. In general, fewer suppliers should be assigned as ad hoc as the pool size increases. We also find that adding a hybrid supplier (engaged in a forward negotiation with an ad hoc negotiation as the fallback option) may be better or worse than adding a forward supplier in the presence of other suppliers. Managerial implications: Our findings inform how a food importer should strategically utilize ad hoc and forward negotiations with its suppliers to improve the outcome. The work may help countries' food importing policymaking and strategies and may improve the wellbeing of large underprivileged populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rising healthcare costs and poor access to health services have become a significant concern for policy-makers; therefore, efforts must be made to generate fiscal space through alternative revenue measures in resource-poor economies. This study attempts to identify possible sources of fiscal space for health in India across political regimes.Methods: The study followed a descriptive approach to examine the political commitment towards health sector development by estimating the trend of growth in fiscal space indicators over the political regimes from 1998-1999 to 2021-2022 using a dummy variable regression model.Results: We found four possible sources of fiscal space for health, which include (1) raising domestic revenue mobilization, (2) generating alternative revenue collection mechanisms, (3) prioritizing health through expenditure management and (4) effective utilization of central transfer. Fiscal space measures such as goods and services tax reform, collection of health-specific tax, higher excise duty on tobacco products, cooking gas subsidies to poor people, tax administration reform and direct beneficiary transfer of health services could be alternative revenue mobilization channels for fiscal space for health.Conclusion: The study reveals that the central government has a political commitment to generating revenue through various fiscal policy reforms. Health has been prioritized over the period, but there is less evidence of health-related political commitment for an increased share of health expenditure to total budgetary allocation. During the last 2 years, however, the health budget has been prioritized due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis despite slower economic growth in India. This study will be a policy document for fiscal space analysis from a political-economic perspective, and the role of the ministry of finance can be assessed through administrative data and documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock plays a momentous role in a country's economy especially in a developing nation like India, where livelihoods of about 20.5 million people depend upon livestock and its allied sectors, suggesting that about two-third of the rural community is involved (Annual Report, 2018). The small ruminants like sheep and goat provide main source of income for many economically poor people, especially marginal and landless farmers. Similarly the role of these livestock to various pastoral communities cannot be ignored. So whenever there is a disease outbreak, the burden of huge economic loss falls on these poor livestock keepers. The traditional methods of disease management involve either treatment with antibiotics or vaccination for prevention of diseases. However, the indiscriminate use of these antibiotics has lead to antibiotic-resistant pathogens and likewise it is extremely difficult to develop vaccines against a wide range of pathogens that are frequently mutating and are caused by multi etiological factors. Hence, considering all these factors breeding of disease resistant animals becomes a top priority in this changing world. The literature is filled with references of indigenous animals and poultry being resistant to many diseases. Keeping this in view, the current review has been written to highlight sustainable and feasible methods for breeding them for disease resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aesthetic correction involves a holistic approach which considers the oral cavity as a whole by the norms of the treatment. Aesthetics enhance the facial profile and also the smile line of the patient which improves the quality of life of a patient enabling them to a better socioeconomic status. Smile correction of a patient paves the path for a systematic approach to the treatment and also imparts an improved level of confidence which leads to new opportunities both in the personal and professional field. AeEsthetic correction provides challenging aspects concerning patient satisfaction and functional demands. This is the most affordable treatment for patients' who are not financially sound in developing countries like India. The other treatment modalities such as Veneers or All-ceramic crowns are aesthetically pleasing but are quite expensive for people in the lower income strata. Due to this, direct composite treatment is very economical and it also improves the patient's overall confidence and it helps them to socialise well and carry out their daily routine activities without any hindrance and difficulty. Case Report: This case report deals with the esthetic correction of midline diastema and spacing in the maxillary and mandibular anterior region. Conclusion: Aesthetic correction involves meticulous treatment planning to revive the essence of lost beauty as well as improve the functional aspect for the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An NGO is a voluntary group or institution with a community policy, which operates independently of the government. As we know by the end of 2019 the disease COVID-19 has hit the world because of the many problems the world is facing. Everything has been set up to control the disease through oral contraceptives in various parts of the world. Speaking of India many people have lost their jobs and have no source of income and there are many poor people like beggars, workers, rickshaw drivers and many others who use to support their families with the daily wages they use to earn but COVID-19 made their lives difficult. The Indian government has taken the initiative and has tried its best to help this type of people by providing groceries, food and many other daily commodities. If some people are left where the Government cannot reach those people they are helped by the private sector to provide them with groceries, food and other necessities for life. My findings show the strategies used by the Apna Ghar Child of God NGO to manage the challenges they faced during COVID-19, what methods an NGO uses to achieve their organizational goal and how to develop a sustainable process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NGO is a voluntary group or institution with a social mission, which operates independently from the government. As we know in the late 2019 a disease namely COVID-19 hit the world due to which a lot of problems have been faced by the world. Everything has been stopped to control the disease by implementing lock-down in all the countries of the world in different stages. If we talk about India lots of people have lost their jobs and have no source of income and there are many poor people like beggars, laborers, rickshaw drivers and many more who use to feed their families on the daily wages they use to earn but COVID-19 made their life hard. Government of India took the initiative and tried their best to help these kinds of people by providing groceries, food and many other day to day products which are used for living. If some people are left where Government was not able to reach those people were helped by the NGOs to get them groceries, food and many other day to day products which are used for living. My research finding indicates the techniques used by Building Dreams Foundation to change the behaviour of poor people to provide their children education and send them to the school or the NGO, what are the criteria used by the NGO to achieve their organizational goal and matrix used to determine mind set of backward class in result to observational approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector is a foundation stone of the growing Indian economy. This sector strikes every facet of human life. The FMCG producers now realize that there is a lot of prospect for them to enter into the rural market. The rising incomes and growing lifestyle is a significant attraction for this sector. There are more than middle income households in the rural areas as compare to the urban. Thus the rural marketing has been growing progressively over the years and is now bigger than the urban market. Globally, the FMCG sector has been successful in selling products to the lower and middle income groups in India. More than 70% of sales are made to middle class households today and over 50% of the middle class residing in rural India. The FMCG sector is energized about a rapidly increasing rural population whose incomes are intensifying and which is willing to spend on goods designed to improve their lifestyles. Also with a near saturation and cut throat competition in urban India, many manufacturers and marketers of this sector are driven to formulate new strategies for targeting the rural consumers. But the rural penetration rates are low. This presents a tremendous opportunity for manufacturers of branded products who can convert prospective consumers into consumers to buy their products. Companies including Multi National Companies and regional players started developing marketing strategies to attract this untouched market. While formulating the strategies, the marketers need to take care of the rural consumers differently from urban consumers because they are economically, socially and psycho-graphically different from each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited availability and accessibility of the public health care facilities have resulted in an increased burden of financing healthcare in developing countries. Therefore, we analyse the inpatient-care financing strategies in India using healthcare and morbidity rounds (1994/1995, 2004, and 2014). Although income and saving is the predominant source of financing healthcare expense constituting a major channel in 70% of the inpatient episodes; the poorest 40% of the households rely more on borrowings, which pushes low-income families into debt and poverty trap. The educated, wealthy, and female tend to rely more on income/saving, while a greater number of visits to the hospital, long duration of stay, and chronic illness are positively associated with the borrowing and sales of assets. Hence, the health care policy, guided by the agenda of Universal Health Cover, should aim to extend health insurance for the chronic recurring illnesses that entail distressed financing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, strict public health measures to suppress COVID-19 transmission and reduce burden have been rapidly adopted. Pandemic containment and confinement measures impact societies and economies; their costs and benefits must be assessed holistically. This study provides an evolving portrait of the health, economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable populations in India. Our analysis focuses on 100 days early in the pandemic from 13 March to 20 June 2020. We developed a conceptual framework based on the human right to health and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We analysed people's experiences recorded and shared via mobile phone on the voice platforms operated by the Gram Vaani COVID-19 response network, a service for rural and low-income populations now being deployed to support India's COVID-19 response. Quantitative and visual methods were used to summarize key features of the data and explore relationships between factors. In its first 100 days, the platform logged over 1.15 million phone calls, of which 793 350 (69%) were outbound calls related largely to health promotion in the context of COVID-19. Analysis of 6636 audio recordings by network users revealed struggles to secure the basic necessities of survival, including food (48%), cash (17%), transportation (10%) and employment or livelihoods (8%). Themes were mapped to shortfalls in 10 SDGs and their associated targets. Pre-existing development deficits and weak social safety nets are driving vulnerability during the COVID-19 crisis. For an effective pandemic response and recovery, these must be addressed through inclusive policy design and institutional reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A whopping proportion of world poverty is found in rural areas and in this light, India is perched as one of the largest country in the world which consists of a mammoth population of rural poor. India, over the years has faced a stiff conundrum of dealing with rural poverty which is very much reflected on the socio-economic lives of such people and hence in this context, it becomes pivotal to explore the various socio-economic determinants of the poor people living in rural areas. The aim of the current research study is to probe into such socio-economic determinants. For this purpose, a survey has been conducted on 423 respondents who primarily fall below the low income groups living in various rural areas of Kharagpur, Balichak, Keshpur and Narayangarh. The data collected has been meticulously analyzed to arrive at the results. It has been found that a large number of people belonged to OBC, SC and ST categories. Besides, some of the major socio-economic determinants of rural poverty explored are unemployment, low income, diminutive savings, poor conditions at workplace, lack of proper housing infrastructure, hunger and starvation, lack of access to education, high illiteracy rate and poor quality natural resources like land and water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]