Belief in witches and witchcraft is an extreme form of gender based violence. Women branded/ labeled as witches face prolonged humiliation and often are stigmatized for life. Terms used for woman labeled as witches are Dakan, Dayan, Tohani. Specific Laws to prevent witch-hunting have been passed in several States but implementation is weak. This two year qualitative / participatory study focuses on three states two states where the Anti-Witchcraft Act has been introduced more than a decade ago i.e. Bihar and Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan where labelling women as witches is rampant but where legislation has been introduced recently have been selected for study. A sample of 75 women, 25 in each state will be covered to document narratives and case studies. The effort is to study the differences in forms and manifestations of violence against women labelled as witches and to get an insight into efficacy of laws and intervention strategies. Besides an extensive review of literature the study has entailed wide ranging fieldwork in each of the three states to get an insight into the forms and manifestations of violence meted out on women branded as witches through their narratives. The team is also involved in probing the effectiveness of laws in protecting women labelled as witches and accused of witchcraft. The role of police, courtroom decisions and legal representations, the role of NGOs/civil society organizations, local healers, public health care providers and community leaders will also be being analyzed to highlight the efficacy of laws and arrive at intervention strategies.

The overall aim of this study is to understand the dynamics of livelihood insecurity in India’s urban informal sector by way of quantifying its incidence and correlates. It is addressed through following sub-objectives: to analyze critically the state approach and the policy framework towards ensuring the livelihood security of the working masses in India’s urban informal sector along with understanding the pitfalls in policy formulation and implementation; to explore the disquieting domains of wage work in terms of work-intensity and occupational health of wage workers across selected industrial clusters; to examine the incidence and nature of unfairness in the remuneration pattern.

Post the Rajinder Sachar Committee report on the social, economic and educational status of the Muslims of India, some affirmative action is being taken by the government. There are many states in India where there is sizeable Muslim population viz., Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam etc. In each state, socio-economic profile of Muslims is different. The focus of the study is to cover both rural and urban areas in order to ascertain factors that contribute to marginalization of Muslims. Therefore, the study focuses on educational and social backwardness, access to jobs, health issues, role and contribution of government schemes, employment and income levels, political participation in terms of voting, contesting elections, and representation in public/ private prestigious positions and decision-making bodies, access to credit facilities, assimilation and mainstreaming of Muslims, discrimination with respect to schooling, health services, social and physical infrastructure and so on. The study also looks at the discrimination of women both in the household domain and outside. The present study is being carried out since 2013 in three states viz., Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan.

The objectives of the study were: to estimate the competitiveness of the dairy sector in India in the liberalised market regime; to study the cost and return from milk production; and assess how the introduction of MGNGEGA impacts the animal husbandry sector in India. The study is based on an extensive primary survey in major six milk producing states in India. The important findings emerging from the study highlight that there has been a substantial reduction in the return from milk production in major milk producing states in India. It is attributable to shortage of women workers, particularly family labour for cattle rearing after the introduction of MGNREGA; there has been substantial increase in the annual wage rate of permanent labours in major agriculture dominant states in India; and the price of cattle feed has considerably increased over the years and the price of milk has almost been stagnant. As a result, more than 50% of milk producing farmers have reported that they wanted to withdraw from cattle rearing as it is increasingly becoming a venture that does not lead to profits.

The overall aim of this study is to examine the socio-economic impact of chemical inputs in agriculture by way of understanding farmers’ perceptions and experiences and to suggest suitable policy measures to overcome the adverse impacts and to take agriculture on a more sustainable path. The report focused on the state of Rajasthan for its detailed analytical inquiry, besides analysing secondary information, drew empirical insights from a detailed primary survey conducted across three agro-climatic zones, known as Irrigated North Western Plains, Flood Prone Eastern Plains and Sub-Humid Southern Plains. Specifically, six districts were selected viz. Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar (Irrigated North Western Plains), Alwar and Dholpur (Flood Prone Eastern Plains) and Chittorgarh and Rajsamand (Sub-Humid Southern Plains).

This study was carried out during the months March 2016-July 2016. It was undertaken on behalf of CFAR to understand the efficacy of the free sanitary napkin distribution program UDAAN of the GoR, and to assess the direct and collateral benefits that have ensued to girls who were addressed as part of the Hygiene Management interventions across schools and CFAR intervention areas/slums in Jaipur. The specific objectives of the study were: to measure the efficacy in terms of the level of knowledge and practices related to management of menstrual hygiene internalized by the girls and their caregivers and mentors both at home, community and school post the programme; to study distribution pattern, of sanitary napkins and availability and access to toilets and bins for disposal at community and schools level and to suggest measures across stakeholders to improve the intervention. All the school going girls and non school going girls felt that the scheme has been beneficial. It had helped in saving money on sanitary napkins and also saved the effort of purchasing them from the market. The girls suggested that government should ensure regular supply of napkins in schools and slum areas along with initiating discussions on menstrual health and hygiene on a regular basis. The assessment indicates that creating gender friendly and health promoting initiatives are essential for addressing puberty and menstruation challenges. It is important not only to address the practical issues of menstrual management but also empower girls with information about their bodies.

The Hon’ble’ Supreme Court of India vide Order dated 7 February, 2013 in Writ Petition (CRL) No. 102 of 2007 in the matter of EXPLOI. OF CHILN.IN J ORPH IN ST OF TN v/s Union of India & Ors has directed that all the institutions are required to be registered under various provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 (JJ Act). In that direction the ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) had urged States /UTs to not only identify and register the CCI but also to establish adequate monitoring mechanism for the Homes through Inspection Committee and other Monitoring Committee as prescribed under the Juvenile Justice Act and Rules so that the interest of children is better safeguarded. In this regard the ministry of Women and Child Development has assigned the task of Mapping & Review of Child Care Institutions under the JJ Act & Other Homes in all the districts in the country to Childline India Foundation (CIF) and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). A survey of 17 districts in Rajasthan was conducted by IDS. The study covered private and government CIC homes, Swadhar and Ujjawala homes.

The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and State Open Schools (SOS) are the major institutions started by national and state governments for this purpose. The main objectives of the research was to examine if the present system of ODL delivered through national and state institutions have the capacity and potential to fulfil the policy goal of enrolling about 12 million students, who are educationally disadvantaged and find it difficult to access regular schooling, and provide them quality secondary schooling education. The study was carried out during the months of May 2015 to December 2016. The study reveals that the main advantage of enrolling in NIOS and RSOS was seen in terms of improved future prospects both in terms of higher education and job opportunities. Most of the learners felt that after completion of the course they could apply for jobs especially government jobs. However, there are wide information gaps relating to the number and choice of subjects that can be taken, intended and actual practices, and TMAs. The issue of Education vs Certification is central to the ODL processes. There is a greater demand for certification. Academic Support through AIs in terms of contact classes as well as Teacher Marked Assignments is not adequate, especially in Rajasthan. There is also a challenge of using technology: All processes, right from admission forms to teaching learning materials, are online. There is a significant role played by middlemen and agents that does not make the ODL a cost effective option for learners.

Defining people’s well-being as the end of development and treating economic growth as a means have been central massages of the Human Development Reports since the 1990s.’ In pursuance of this, union and state governments in India have taken measures to address the human development issues collaboratively as well as independently. The state of Rajasthan is a front runner in taking the initiative of preparing the Human Development Reports (HDRs) and three Human Development Reports have been prepared in the state (1) Human Development Report: 1999, by a group of independent researchers, (2) Human Development Report: 2002 by Government of Rajasthan, and (3) Human Development Report an Update, 2008 prepared by Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur for the Government of Rajasthan. The present HDR for Rajasthan 2015-16 is being prepared by the Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur, on behalf of the Government of Rajasthan. This report is based on the theme of ‘Equity and Sustainability’. In addition the report has nine chapters on different dimensions of human development. An attempt has also been made to incorporate experiences, and qualitative information collected from the field to enrich the quality of the report. Top three and bottom three districts have been identified based on the performance in the output indices such as HDI/ HPI/ GDI and primary (mostly qualitative) information collected to understand the reason of good and bad performance of these districts.

This report tables the results of a survey undertaken during April and May 2015 amongst all homeless people present in the city of Jaipur at that point of time. Because of the anonymous character of this group of population, the possibility of a complete enumeration in the city has to be ruled out. The total number of homeless mapped during the survey was 15634. The analysis here is based on the information provided in 572 valid survey forms. The methodology was developed after discussions with experts in mapping the ‘homeless population’, civil society organisations working for the homeless people, academicians, and commissioners appointed by the Honourable high court of Rajasthan to look into the issue of homeless in Rajasthan etc. In order to capture the accurate number of homeless the survey proceeded in three steps: Surveying; Mapping and Night shelter visit. The finding of the study highlight that majority of homeless are working men and women and are productive citizens; a significant number of homeless are also children. The motivation to migrate is a result of the poor state of the rural economy. They sleep on the pavements and at workplaces, often eat only one meal a day and cook occasionally and sometimes get food from philanthropic organizations. They depend on water from unsafe sources (public places). A significant number of homeless are not aware about the night shelters. They cannot access the night shelters as they do not have any identity cards, few do not want to avail the facility because there is no provision for women, family, space to keep their assets.

Few major observations emerging from the study are: the issue of labour market is much more complex than it has been understood so far; primary data base study on labour markets has an added advantage because it gives the freedom of excavate the issue and unearth the reason behind the change very minutely; there is noticeable change observed in the forms of labour contracts and ‘terms and conditions’ of labour contract. The reasons for change are government policies, increasing social security mechanisms, increasing urbanisation, opening up of the non-farm sector, mechanisation of agriculture etc. Efforts were made to understand these issues at the field level. However, the study underscores the need for more in-depth study for an in-depth analysis.

This study looked into the socio-cultural dimensions of legal provisions and policies for protection of children in India and Rajasthan. It also attempted to analyze various issues for prevention: policy/ legal provisions/ programmes in place, redressal mechanisma and challenges faced. The study also suggests measures to upscale the effective implementation of child protection schemes in Rajasthan. The study explored the extent of awareness and linkages of family and community with the district, state and national child protection system, perception of communities for government mechanisms such as the police and legal system, gaps in these linkages, views of people to recognize childhood and children’s development. The research used systematic, qualitative methodology to provide richness and in-depth understanding of the problem, as well as to elicit and learn about views of functionaries of child protection system and teachers, parents and children themselves. By eliciting their own views, values, and practices, a rich, grounded picture of their beliefs and practices with the added value of giving voice to local people has been obtained.

This research study aimed to explore the shifting meanings of empowerment from the perspective of women who have been part of two innovative programmes i.e. the Women’s Development Project (WDP) of the Government of Rajasthan and the Mahila Samakhaya Programme (MS) of the Government of India. The purpose was to examine these innovations with a gender lens in order to establish the pathways to women’s empowerment, agency and gender equality and the impact on transforming gender relations together with women’s lives. The research explored the transform potential of these two programmes to initiate a process where women perceived the need to move from a state of passive acceptance of their life situation to one of active self determination of their lives and their immediate environment. The study was qualitative in nature and centred on women’s testimonies/ narratives. It also analyzed the larger structural factors that have determined the process of change. The focus was on women in the two initial districts of Rajasthan where the WDP programme was launched along with the state of Uttarakhand (Nainital and Dehradun districts) where MS was initiated in the first phase. The narratives of the women in the two programmes amply demonstrate that empowerment is not just about enlarging the boundaries of action but is also about extending the horizon of possibilities of what people imagine about themselves being able to do and do. It is not a simple equation in which there is a linear connection between choice, action and outcome. Many of the women who were part of these initiatives have gained greater confidence, capabilities and consciousness and capacity to act collectively to demand rights and recognition. They have found ‘voice’ through these programmes and have been enabled to challenge entrenched patriarchal structures. The research study makes a case for sustainability of innovative programmes and suggests that given the uniqueness of both the initiatives that succeeded in mobilising women from the most disadvantaged and marginalised groups to fight for their rights, it is pertinent that the insights and learning from these programmes be fed into all future policy and design of programmes for women’s empowerment and development in the country.

Since the very introduction of MGNREGA, its impact on different walks of rural life including the labour market has been measured in terms of rural households enrolled for jos under MGNREGA, days of employment made available to households and significant variation in percentages across different states and districts among job seekers and finder households have been observed. It is against the backdrop that the study was placed. The study aimed at identifying factors influencing MGNREGA implementation and its impact across regions in India. Primary objectives of the study were to assess impacts of MGNREGA on rural labour market in Kerala and Rajasthan and examine the impact of MGNREGA on diary sector in Kerala and Rajasthan. The choice of Kerala and Rajasthan as sample regions for the study was based primarily on differences in the characteristics of rural labour market. Some of the major findings highlighted by the study were proportion of women workers in MGNREGA is higher in Kerala than in Rajasthan; women workers joined MGNREGA because it was considered a government job; the difference between market and MGNREGA wage is the primary variable influencing the effectiveness of MGNREGA; and MGNREGA has impacted the supply of labour in both agriculture and animal husbandry sector. The study concluded that MGNREGA has impacted significantly on the rural labour markets and the dilution of the programme without placing alternative source of employment would lead to immiserisation in rural area.

The study has delved into the question of input gaps and the yield gap in rain fed agriculture with specific reference to the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan. In meeting its goals the study conducted a comprehensive sample survey of 3360 farm households selected through stratified random sampling from fourteen districts of Gujarat and Rajasthan– Seven sample districts selected from Gujarat are Anand, Banaskantha, Mehsana, Panchmahal, Rajkot, Sabarkantha and Vadodara and the seven sample districts of Rajasthan are Ajmer, Barmer, Bharatpur, Kota, Sikar, Sri Ganganagar and Udaipur. In addition, the study has also interviewed 84 input suppliers in both the states. Based on the information collected through pre-designed schedules, the study examined at length aspects such as : pattern of input usage (with specific reference to seeds, fertilizers, pesticidies / insecticides, bio-fertilizers, micro-nutrients, farm yard manure etc.), usage of machinery and the state of irrigation, farmers’ knowledge and access to institutional support, and the incidence of yield gaps. The study found that there exists a large gap in the usage of inputs – a large part of which is due to constraints in the supply of inputs. Farmers’ knowledge of latest agricultural techniques is also limited and the situation gets worsened due to fragile institutional support. All this leads to the presence of wide gaps in the attainment of crop yields. Keeping these findings in view, the study urges for strong policy interventions for strengthening the rain fed agriculture in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

The study was carried out in two phases. The first phase of the study aimed at a detailed analysis of the secondary data on production, structure, impact of different programmes and policies like MGNREGA and external trade of animal husbandry sector in India. The second phase of the study was primarily based on field survey of cattle rearing farmers from six major as well as minor milk producing states in India. It included: Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Kerala. The major objective of primary survey was: to arrive at an estimation of the cost of production of milk in different states by type of farmers; analyse the association between crop production and cattle rearing; analyse changes in the milk production sector in terms of organisation of production and; study the impact of different employment and anti-poor programmes of the state on animal husbandry sector. The study revealed that the analysis of animal husbandry sector employing secondary data poses serious problems. Availability and reliability of existing data, data gaps the coverage are major problems. The first phase of the study revealed that there has been a serious lacuna in reliable and time series data on several essential facets of structural shift in milk production in India over the years. The shift has happened primarily in terms of the organisation of production. It is found that introduction of MGNREGA has impacted differently in different states. More often, the MGNREGA has impacted on the diary sector through rural labour market and its manifestation was on hike in labour cost on the one side on account of the availability of fewer hands for cattle rearing work. Alongside, the crisis in the crop production sector has also extended its consequences on the diary sector. Unless strong and effective mediation in the sector from the central and state government is made sooner than later, the sector may head towards a kind of situation that the crop production sector has been into for the last two decades. It is found that the sector is heading towards elimination of small and marginal farmers from the sector.

The project, Agricultural Finance in India: A Study of Small, Marginal, Dalit and Tribal Farmers, deals with agriculture finance for Dalits and other marginalised farming community. The main challenge faced by agricultural credit involves not only ensuring flow of credit to small and marginal farmers along with Dalit and tribal farmers, but at the same time designing policies and credit delivery systems that have relevance in the present context in terms of production and demand for agricultural products. Such policies have to consider the need for agricultural credit due to crop diversification. The present study is located in Rajasthan and its findings are based on utilizing both secondary and primary information. For primary survey, all the 10 agro climatic regions of Rajasthan were covered. In the above background, the present study attempted to review the literature on Agriculture Finance to arrive at pertinent issues and concerns; analyse the credit flow to agriculture sector at all India level and Rajasthan state since 2000 and the changes in policies; analyse the agricultural growth in Rajasthan and at district level as it has strong links with absorption of credit; analyse issues related to and trend in agriculture sector capital formation; analyse the credit flow to small, marginal, dalit and tribal farmers in Rajasthan state; analyse the indebtedness of small, marginal, dalit and tribal farmers in Rajasthan state; analyse the demand for credit for small, marginal, dalit and tribal farmers in Rajasthan state in the changing environment and; suggest policy changes if any required to step credit flow to this section of farming community. The present multi-agency approach is inadequate to tackle the pressing need for finance of agricultural extension services too. There is a need to address the issue of how to channel the resources of commercial banks in sustainable and viable manner in order to fund the development of a wide range of allied activities. It is also felt that tenancy laws also hinder flow of credit to tenant and sharecroppers despite guidelines issued by Reserve Bank of India. The specific needs of the agricultural sector to financial services demand a broader systemic approach.

The National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW) under the Ministry of Women and Child was launched by the Government of India (GOI) with a view to empower women holistically. One of the key components of the mission is to secure convergence of schemes/ programmes of different Ministries, both of the Central and State Governments. The NMEW conceived a new model of delivery i.e. the `Convergence Model’ called the Poorna Shakti Kendras (PSK). The PSK is the focal point of action on the ground through which the services to women at grassroots level are facilitated. The pilot project was launched in Pali district of Rajasthan and accomplished its objectives after more than one year of implementation. The external evaluation attempted to determine the effectiveness of the project in achieving its broader objective of holistic empowerment of women through convergence. The external evaluation attempted to bring out the experience of operating the Pilot in terms of achievements, best practices, and limitations in the existing design and provide steps for suitable corrective actions. It assessed the relevance; effectiveness; efficiency; impact and sustainability of the project while highlighting opportunities for scaling up operations.

This project was initiated by the Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur in collaboration with the François-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University in 2013 with financial support from the Population Foundation of India, New Delhi. The research project aimed at understanding how female college students from marginalized, low-literacy families across Rajasthan managed to successfully overcome economic, social and cultural barriers to girls’ education and progress to tertiary level. Specifically, ‘Champions’ are defined as young women enrolled in their second year of an undergraduate degree programme in a government college whose parents have completed no more than a secondary school education. By focusing on the uncommon behaviours of this successful minority, rather than the barriers to educational progression, this project employed a ‘positive deviance’ approach. While investigating into the infrastructural and social drivers of female empowerment, the study provides empirically based research findings to impact radical changes towards betterment in government policy. The project involved quantitative data collection with over 400 Champions (CHs) drawn randomly from thirteen government colleges across five districts in the State. In addition 223 ‘Non Champions’(NCs) – a comparison group of young women matched by age, geographical location and parental education levels participated in the study. A detailed report and Policy brief has been prepared and shared with different academic and policy groups. The study clearly indicates that with the right support even those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds can forge a path to personal empowerment through education that would have been unimaginable for their mothers’ generation. The fact that daughters from these families are in college represents a significant shift in one generation: a manifestation of upward mobility in modern India. Despite limited exposure to female economic activity in the formal sector, CH’s did not view a college education as simply a means to secure a better marriage match. 97% of CHs plan to pursue professional occupations such as teaching and civil service jobs. They aspire to help more young women overcome the manifold socio-economic barriers to educational advancement.

The study attempted to look at the estimation of revenue capacities of Rajasthan and measures undertaken to improve the tax‐ GSDP ratio during the last five years. It also puts forth suggestions for enhancing the revenue productivity of the tax system in Rajasthan. It undertakes an analysis of Rajasthan’s own non‐tax revenues and recommends measures to enhance revenues from user charges, profits from departmental enterprises and dividends from non‐departmental commercial enterprises.

The near total stagnation in the overall growth performance of agriculture and allied sectors in India since the mid 1990s has been a matter of concern for policy makers for the last two decades. Agriculture being the prime mover of macro economic growth in the country as well as an inevitable element to make growth inclusive the Approach Paper to the 11th Five Year Plan suggested a road map for 4 percent growth rate per annum for agriculture and allied sectors to attain the long‐run goal of 9 percent growth for the economy. Sharing the concern expressed in the Approach Paper of the Planning Commission, in its 53rd meeting held in May 2007, the National Development Council articulated social imperativeness of reversing the dismal growth performance of the agriculture sector in India. It was observed that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from agriculture experienced a sharp deceleration in its trend growth from 3.62 percent during 1984‐1985 to 1995‐1996 to less than 2 percent between 1995‐1996 and 2004‐2005. The observed deceleration aggravated further and compounded more on the livelihood of the farm dependent population in rain‐fed areas in India. Consequent upon the resolve that a special Additional Central Assistance Scheme called Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) has been launched. RKVY resolved to incentivize the states to draw up a Comprehensive State Agricultural Plan (C‐SAP), giving due emphasis to agro‐climatic conditions, natural resource issues and technology. It is envisaged under RKVY that every state should draw up C‐DAP which should integrate the deliberations, need and resource availability of respective Gram Panchayat under the district. The C‐SAP has accordingly been formulated by compiling the C‐DAP which in turn, in every respect, should be a State Agricultural Plan from below. The present project has consolidated the District Agriculture Plan and formulated the State Agriculture Plan for the 12th Five Year Plan in Rajasthan.

The last part of 19th century noticed a series of suicides among farm households in different parts of India which added a new chapter to Indian agrarian history. It is unfortunate that farmers, the largest single occupational segment in India, are showing their helplessness under the present economic scenario through series of self‐inflicted deaths when the economy is growing at a rate of 9 percent. Suicides by farmers are continuously being reported from different states. The key question asked is why and how did a prosperous, well recognized and important sector turn into a deceased one in last six decades. The households associated with this sector as well as the sector as a whole is in distress. The study attempts to analyze and understand the types and extent of ‘distress‐ness’ the agrarian households face in India by exploring distress-ness among the agrarian households with the help of 200 sample peasant households in Odisha. The study tried to understand whether the agrarian crisis is structurally in‐built in India, and why do self‐employed persons opt for a self‐inflicted death?

The special task force set up by the government of India under the chairmanship of Prof. Vaidyanathan recommended an action plan for the revival of the Short Term Cooperative Credit Structure (STCCS) that covered a one‐time financial assistance to ‘bring the system to an acceptable level of health’; legal and institutional reforms for democratic, efficient and self‐reliant working of the three tiered cooperative credit structure; and measures to improve the governance and quality of management of the credit cooperatives. These components collectively formed a package to revive the cooperative credit structure. The one time financial assistance, especially, was conditional on the state governments carrying out certain institutional and legal reforms. Major objectives of the 5 independent studies was to assess the efficacy and impact of the revival package (RP) on the short‐term cooperative credit structure (STCCS) in 5 states viz. Odisha, West Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh in each of the states and to suggest measures to remove shortcomings observed in implementation as also to fulfill the requirement of the various covenants contained in memorandum of understanding signed by state Government with Government of India and NABARD. In lieu of the above the studies addresses the following issues: Verify whether policy guidelines issued by government of India, state government, Reserve Bank of India and NABARD under revival package are implemented by the short term cooperative credit structure; Study the impact of revival package in all three tiers of short term cooperative credit structure with reference to growth in credit uptake, coverage of small farmers/ marginal farmers, improvement in recovery percentage, business diversification, improvement in financial productivity and operational profitability, return on assets and CRAR; Asses the correctness of transmission of funds as per NABARD norms and also assess how it is accounted in the books of Primary Agricultural Cooperative credit Societies as also how it has enabled the institutions to enhance its leverage and outreach to its clients; Assess the impact of the human resource development and capacity building initiatives taken under the package in improving the democratic character of cooperative credit structure (LLS) and in enhancing good governance, management and organisational effectiveness; Assess the acceptance to common accounting system and management information system (CAS/MIS) in Primary Agricultural Cooperative Credit Societies and its internalisation and its consequential impact on the efficiency of the entity and its management in meeting the aspirations of all stakeholders with particular reference to accounting standards, internal control systems, decision‐ making and audit systems; Assess the overall impact on short term cooperative credit structure under Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme (ADWDRS), 2008 on the overall financial performance with particular reference to weak banks and assess whether weak banks comply with Section 11 of B.R. Act (AACS), 1949, after the receipt of financial assistance both under the package as well as ADWDRS; Evaluate the overall impact of the reform initiatives (including monetary and non‐ monetary initiatives) on the design and governance reforms especially in terms of autonomy and reduced state control, structure, process flows and financial performance including recovery aspects.

The project, had a major objective to assess the overall revenue profile of the 184 urban local bodies in Rajasthan by understanding both the existing as well as the expected situation. The specific objectives of the study were to examine the revenue profile of the 184 urban local bodies with specific reference to the Section 101 to 106 of the Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009 over the period of three years, i.e. 2010‐11, 2011‐12 and 2012‐13; to provide projected estimates of revenue that the 184 urban local bodies would be generating during next two years of 2013‐14 and 2015‐16 under different scenarios; to explore various avenues that could be the potential source of revenue for the 184 urban local bodies in Rajasthan; to trace‐out various innovative practices of revenue generation that the urban local bodies in Rajasthan have either adopted or are thinking of adopting; to provide suggestions for the provision of services that may ultimately result in the levying of user charges.

The statistics and Data Bank Division of the Office of the Development Commissioner has two on‐going schemes: The first, Collection of Statistics (COS) & Computerisation of SDIs and DICs. This was started during the 8th plan period. Broadly, the objective of the scheme was to collect, compile and disseminate production data on Small Scale Industries / Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in India. The Scheme is implemented through State Directorate of Industries with support from Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises‐Development Institutes (MSME‐DIs). Second, Quinquennial Census (QC) and Sample Survey on Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSME). The broad objective of the scheme was the collection of data on MSME in respect of number of enterprises, employment, investment, gross output, extent of sickness and export. This evaluation study was related to the aforesaid on‐going schemes of the Office of Development Commissioner (MSME), New Delhi. The objectives of the study were: to assess how successful was the schemes in achieving the objective(s) as set out in the plan proposal, as per the TOR of the award of the study; and to suggest measures to make the data base more relevant to the needs of MSME sector and the government. The study strongly recommended that both the schemes under the DC‐MSME should be continued for the following reasons: MSME sector is the fastest growing sector in terms of employment generation and value added especially since the 1990s; there is no alternative data base of MSME sector in India other than QC and COS; the MSME sector needs close monitoring and supervision as more than half of the enterprises are too fragile to outlive even mild shakes in their market.

The study delved into the question of input gaps and the yield gap in rainfed agriculture with specific reference to the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Primarily the study has been based on a sample survey of 3360 farm households selected through stratified random sampling from fourteen districts of Gujarat and Rajasthan– seven sample districts of Gujarat are Anand, Banaskantha, Mehsana, Panchmahal, Rajkot, Sabarkantha and Vadodara and the seven sample districts of Rajasthan are Ajmer, Barmer, Bharatpur, Kota, Sikar, Sri Ganganagar and Udaipur. In addition, the study has also interviewed 84 input suppliers in both the states. The study revealed the large gap in the usage of inputs – a large part of which is due to constraints in the supply of inputs. Farmers’ knowledge of latest agricultural techniques is also limited and the situation gets worsened further due to fragile institutional support. All this leads to the presence of wide gaps in the attainment of crop yields. Keeping these findings in view, the study urges for strong policy interventions for strengthening the rain fed agriculture in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

In the context of a sector policy approach and perspective planning, a comprehensive review of the water sector for the last 5‐7 years was undertaken to provide a useful starting point to make the MTEF efforts more credible and effective. This special ‘Public Expenditure Review (PER) of Water Sector in Rajasthan’ analyzed past trends in water sector finances in order to inform the future projections and targets for the water sector MTEF in the state. The study recommended that the MTEF has to be complement to, not a substitute for, basic budgetary management reform. Before launching an MTEF reform a comprehensive and detailed diagnosis of the most important PEM problems has to be prepared, as is being done in the new generation of PERs. Reforms of budget classification, formulation, comprehensiveness, execution, controls and audit, and transparency are also required to be undertaken. Introduction of the MTEF reform then are to be tailored, based on these initial PEM conditions and the prescriptions for their reform.

Rajasthan’s 2010 State Water Policy (SWP) recognises that increasing water scarcity is a result of an imbalance between available water resources and rapidly escalating water demand. The policy also recognises that water pollution from natural contaminants (e.g. fluoride) and anthropogenic contaminants (e.g. untreated wastewaters) is widening the gap between demand and available water resources of an acceptable quality. Significantly the policy acknowledges that as water scarcity increases, it is the poor and marginal social groups who tend to suffer the greatest hardship. Increasing water scarcity in Rajasthan has created pressures and incentives for major policy change. The study reviewed the state of knowledge regarding the use and utility of regulatory instruments in the water sector internationally, regionally and in Rajasthan. Specific attention was given to the practical lessons learnt that are relevant to the implementation of the 2010 Rajasthan Water Policy and to the sector reform activities of the EU‐supported State Partnership Programme. Important findings from the study include: Current focus is mainly on using economic instruments for regulating water use. The emphasis of the 2010 Rajasthan Water Policy is on charging for water so that users have incentives to reduce water use and, where relevant, to switch to water uses that derive higher social, economic and environmental benefits. However instead of focusing mainly on water tariffs, a much wider range of regulatory instruments could and should be considered. In addition, regulatory instruments should be matched to different groups of water users and uses; Metering of water (or power) usage by individual users is a pre‐requisite for regulatory systems that aim to manage demand for water (or power) via economic instruments; few examples exist of economic instruments being used successfully to manage demand for irrigation water. The overriding conclusion of the study is that regulation and management of demand for water, particularly by agricultural users, is far from easy. There are no quick “regulatory” fixes that can be adopted in Rajasthan. This said there is no denying the fundamental importance to Rajasthan’s future prosperity of developing viable scalable water regulatory systems.

Democratic decentralisation and local‐level planning are often used interchangeably and viewed as vital for sustainable development through more accountable governance. Despite the long history of local‐level Panchayats in India, the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) created in 1959 received a stimulus only with the passing of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment of 1992 and 1993. However, even after this, the performance of Panchayats has been generally weak and there have only been a few exceptions to the poor experience with local‐level planning. The study reports that there is poor coordination across departments‐ that departments are highly segregated and focused on supply‐side, specialist engineering and there is little coordination across departments while planning water‐related interventions; Departments consult each other largely when requiring jurisdictional permissions; The local government structure achieves a limited degree of coordination of the technical planning processes only at District‐ level under the auspices of the District Collector, CEO and CPO; Coordination of the water sector remains weak without the authority and associated fund flows from the State‐level; Only the centrally driven programmes with their specific funding and approval arrangements have achieved a degree of inter‐Departmental interaction; Departments plan and implement in a ‘compartmentalised’ way with little interaction and there is very little sharing of planning data either vertically between State, District, Block or GP; or horizontally between Departments; There is an absence of a technical planning framework, methodology and tools to guide the application of decentralised and participatory planning for IWRM; There is limited vertical coordination of planning from village/GP to block and District except for the purposes of administrative approval and annual budgeting; Issues of scale and the need to nest local‐level plans within intermediate and national level plans and/or basin and aquifer level planning processes both within and beyond the water sector therefore remain, even in successful cases of decentralized planning, as in Kerala.

The Institute of Development studies is one of the Monitoring Institutions for carrying out Monitoring of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in Rajasthan identified by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resources, GoI. The main objective of the ongoing Monitoring includes: making an assessment and analysing the implementation of the approved interventions and processes underlying these interventions at the habitation and school level keeping in view the overarching goals of SSA and provisions under RTE Act 2009; identifying the social, cultural, linguistic or other barriers coming in the way of successful implementation of schematic interventions and attainment of goals. Over a two year period monitoring was carried out in 14 districts of Rajasthan. The quarterly reports have been shared both with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rajasthan and Government of India. In the last quarter monitoring was carried out in Barmer, Banswara and Rajsamand districts. In the districts surveyed, the MDM was being cooked in the school premises under the supervision of the SMC in all schools. Out of total surveyed schools 86.7 percent schools reported that the MDM was served regularly in the past 12 months. Out of the total children enrolled, 64.2 percent children were availing MDM on the day of visit. The participation of parents, VEC members and PRIs in monitoring and Supervision of MDM was reported only in 56.7 percent schools.

According to the United Nations, “The term handmade articles should be taken to cover those produced with or without the use of tools, simple instruments or implements operated directly by the craftsman mainly by hand or by foot… Within the group of handmade goods, some such as Handicraft often have identifying features such as, traditional or artistic features deriving from the geographical region or country of production; and production by craftsmen working generally on a cottage industry basis. Rajasthan is one of the major states in handicraft productions. The study indicates that crafts have undergone tremendous changes at all levels whether its usage, production and designing process. It has shifted from rural households to elite households. The craft which was actually having a usage in every household has now turned into a show piece for homes. The changes in processes and designing have come especially in last twenty five years. In some of the crafts opening of markets and exports have certainly led to changes. The very fact those crafts which are exported have shifted from household production to factories. This was basically demand driven and also limited to those crafts which are into export markets. In export oriented crafts we also find that employment pattern has changed. We also find the displacement of women from some of the production processes. This too has changed because of the changes in designing and the process of making the craft. Interestingly, the changes in the style, production, colours and designing have been accepted and internalized by the artisans. As one 70 year old artisan mentioned “in order to survive and earn we have been accepting the changes”. But where the artisans are not able to find marketing linkages and with rise of prices of raw material they have switched over to other professions.

The project, Childline Research Support and Monitoring, is an attempt to analyse the programmes and schemes of the Rajasthan Government for children vis‐à‐vis CRC. This is an ongoing project wherein the Institute is a nodal agency. “A child‐friendly nation that guarantees the rights and protection of all children” is the vision of Childline. CHILDLINE is a national, 24‐ hours, free, emergency telephone helpline and outreach service for children in need of care and protection. CHILDLINE number 1098 is a toll free number that is common in all the cities of India. Initially started in Mumbai in June 1996, CHILDLINE is currently operational in 200 cities. CHILDLINE aims to reach out to the most marginalized children and provides interventions related to medical, shelter, repatriation, rescue, death related, sponsorships, emotional support and guidance. CIF is the nodal organisation for CHILDLINE service across the country. The goal of CIF is to reach out to marginalised children in need of care and protection. During the year open house at 24 different places to spread awareness about CHILDLINE and find out problems of children in the area were conducted. Re‐orientation Programme and Resource organization meeting were organized at Institute of Development Studies with NGOs and Child line Functionaries. The problems faced by the functionaries were discussed. Various other activities included child line message displayed on the website of Tourism Department and on the walls of schools. CHILDLINE message were also pasted on every fitness vehicles according to Government circulars i.e., auto, bus, trucks, etc. Information about CHILDLINE 1098 is being printed on water Bills and Electricity Bills. News items on CHILDLINE are regularly published in local dailies (Hindi and English). IDSJ as a nodal organization did networking with NGOs and government departments.

The project evaluated the 12th plan programmes of National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmadabad. NID has enough capabilities to compete internationally and attract foreign direct investment in education. However, the government needs to invest in modern equipment and infrastructure. The suggestions made in National Design Policy- 2007 should be supported and NID’s nodal role ensured. It is a matter of concern that there is little enthusiasm at the State Governments level to set up Institutes of Design. The clamour is for Institutes of Technologies and Engineering colleges. Institute of Design has a direct relevance to grassroots level activities viz., artisans, making local industries more competitive through design up-gradation. Design learning has to be mainstreamed. NID has the capabilities and strength to create world-class designers. Therefore, financial support has to be enhanced if India has to have any major impact on its GDP through design. Foreign direct investment can add to this resource.NID was able to achieve the 11th plan targets it had set for itself through contribution of the government and own contribution-both financial and intellectual. This speaks volume about the strengthen of the NID faculty and contribution to design movement of the country. NID has been amongst the first Central Government supported to achieve OBC reservation of 27 percent in admissions. This has put greater stress on its resources be it financial or physical. Gandhinagar and Bangalore campuses require additional infrastructure to accommodate enhanced intake of students. They require hostels and classrooms and studios. Government has to facilitate more land for NID. Students need recreation facilities and this too requires additional space. If NID has to extend its outreach to unreached sections in rural and urban India, NID has to be supported. The study revealed that the NID was not only able to reach its targets set in the Eleventh Five Year Plan but went further to increase the fees at almost 100% to decrease the dependency on government grants, especially the recurring grants. Thus, NID has the capacity and capability to achieve the Twelfth plan targets. Financial and other institutional and Government support has be forthcoming to complement the resources of the NID and meeting the growth and expansion needs of this internationally reputed Institution.

The present study made an attempt to analyse the mode of governance and its cascading impact on the future of MFIs in India. The objectives were: to review the concept of governance in organizations involved in providing/ facilitating financial services to the poor and; to review the experience and learning of enhancing/ facilitating governance structures and systems with specific tools. The study is based on primary as well as secondary data elicited and culled out from MFIs and their clienteles spread over seven states, viz., Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil nadu. For the study, 34 MFIs were contacted. Important questions on mode of governance, vision, mission, goal, and core values of MFIs, mode of review, composition of Board, active borrowers of MFIs and mode of loan disbursement, entrepreneurial activities promoted, collection strategies, were elicited from MFIs and SHGs. The study highlights that: there seem to be a set pattern for established MFIs to state their vision, mission, goal and core values. It could be observed that vision–mission statements are made available for public consumption as part of fulfilling the statutory norms under the Act of registration. Seldom the statements are honoured and measures taken to pursue it in practice. Based on the purpose and functions of MFIs, broadly they can be classed under three major categories viz., erstwhile NGOs which were concentrated mostly on community services have either transformed into MFIs or set up affiliated branches for MFI operations; erstwhile village money lenders extended and expanded their activities into MFI; large corporations or their subsidiaries; schedule led commercial banks like Dhanalekshmi Bank in Kerala joint with caste, religious and political parties to form SHGs and lend money to its members. With respect to governance, most of such organisations lack corporate culture or tradition and therefore get reduced to an individual business concern. Moreover, such organisations lack transparency in their business. The study underlines imperativeness of a rigid and well thought out statutory mechanism in place to regulate MFIs in India, which should govern them.

This study was sponsored under the MoRD‐UNDP/CDLG project of Indira Gandhi Panchayati Raj and Grameen Vikas Sansthan, SIRD, Rajasthan. It explored the situation of EWRs by appraising their functional effectiveness, assess their needs for capacity development, and analyze their concerns and challenges in grappling with their responsibilities in a patriarchal socio‐cultural set up. It analysed women’s experience in their new political role, the processes of change, problems of participation, inherent potential, support of families, communities and other social collectives. More importantly, it attempted to understand whether this new presence and experience has had a positive impact and empowering effect on the lives of elected women representatives. Some of the key findings of the study point that the profile of respondents is changing with middle and younger age group entering rural governance. The presence of younger women has had an encouraging influence on the performance of institutions of local self governance. They are energetic and have higher educational levels and have begun influencing the decisions/agenda of meetings. However, belonging to a younger age group involves a continuous struggle between their roles in the domestic/private and public domains. The study revealed a large majority of EWRs are non‐literates or have attained only functional literacy. Caste is one of the main factor impacting differences in access, participation and influence of women in local politics in the state. Thus, in Rajasthan caste evolves into an exclusive system of control to consolidate and perpetuate exclusion. Caste works not just in conjunction with patriarchy but often becomes patriarchal itself. The study underscores that representation of BPL category in local governance institutions continues to be marginal. There were several reasons behind EWRs motivation to join politics: caste and voters support, prior political experience of marital family and support and encouragement provided by the marital/natal family. However, reservation of seats for women emerged as the main reason motivating women to join politics.

The study aimed to examine the objectives, procedures and practices of the formation of famer clubs in different locations, external assistance needed and received towards the fulfillment of such objectives and indicate the scope for reformulating/redesigning the farmer clubs. The study evaluated the effectiveness of farmer clubs in six states viz. Rajasthan, Bihar, Assam, Tripura, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. It covered 880 farmer clubs. The results show that most farmer clubs across districts do not have laid down objectives, but in many places at the time of the formation of the club, the promoter did try to explain what the objectives were. For instance, the farmers were informed that the club would receive benefits from schemes of NABARD, knowledge about agriculture practices, facilitation of loans and promotion of savings, would receive subsidies on government schemes/programmes. Bankers had provided information on farmer clubs to farmers who were already their clients in the bank itself and then held meetings in the villages and formed the clubs. In many other places, primarily large farmers had been included. Thus, it appears that largely targets had been met and not much attention had been paid to procedures of group formation. The study recommends ways to reformulate and redesign farmer clubs. For instance, targeting has to be done away with; the existing structure is satisfactory. However, the need is to spend greater time in formation of clubs. It should involve farmers who are outside the net of credit system; as technology transfer and raising agriculture productivity is aimed at, greater involvement of Krishi Vikas Kendras (KVKs) is required.

The study was undertaken in the light of the observation that Natural Rubber (NR) has been growing fast in Tripura, second largest NR growing state in India after Kerala. The study analysed the employment and income effect of the crop shift and also highlighted that there have been significant fall in employment for wage labour and the loss in employment days was mostly for workers in tribal and dalit communities. Hence, the immediate consequence of the shift in cropping pattern from food crops to NR was loss of employment and non-availability to food to vulnerable section in the society. It has been estimated that 25 percent of the gross cropped area in the state of Tripura is earmarked for NR cultivation by the Rubber Board and the state government. Out of the total population, 31 percent are tribals and their main stay of livelihood continues to be traditional agriculture including bamboo flower, rice, fishery, vegetables and fruits. The study found that the promotion of commercial non-food crops (NR) in Tripura was a state-sponsored agenda introduced as a rehabilitation project for tribal who had been practicing shifting cultivation. For the last one decade, the NR price has been ruling high over the price of other major crops grown in the state and therefore farmers have shifted to NR. The current scenario is such that the spread of area under NR cultivation is beyond the regulatory power of the state government.

The study was perceived in the background of a consecutive fall in milk pouring to Jalgaon Milk Union. Under Jalgaon Milk Union (JMU), there are more than 1000 dairy cooperative societies (DCS). The DCS collects milk from farmers and send it to JMU. It was reported that the pouring of milk to JMU by DCS has been on a decline, therefore, the study attempted to identify reasons for it. The study was based on a primary survey of 750 dairy farmer households in selected 30 DCS of live talukas in Jalgaon district. It revealed that the declining trend in milk pouring has been a recurrent phenomenon. This in turn implicates that the observed trend may turn around any time from now; farmers are shifting from buffalo to desi cow. The shift has been driven by the increased cost of production of milk and labour cost of rearing animal. (desi cow can be reared with family labour-female); shift in cropping pattern in the district from cattle fodder supplying food crops. Cost of production of milk of all types of animals is on the higher side as compared to the return from it. The study concluded that the observed decline in milk pouring is a reflection of the passive tendency of farmers to treat cattle rearing as a primary occupation. The trend can be reversed only by transforming functions of DCS as market facilitator to production facilitator while ensuring marketing of milk and milk products at a remunerative price.

The slow growth in agriculture in relation to industry and service sectors has been a matter of serious concern for policy makers especially since the introduction of economic reforms in 1991. Further, the crisis in the farm front by the late 1990s has pushed farmers to the extreme step of ending their lives out of sheer distress. Concerned due to these factors, the National Development Council resolved to launch a special Additional Central Assistance Scheme called Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) in May 2007. In the light of falling public and private investment in agriculture, it was envisaged that channeling the small savings of farmers as complementary to public sector investment would help enhance the much needed investment and overcome technology fatigue in the farm sector. It was resolved to implement RKVY by developing a comprehensive State Agriculture Plan (SAP) by integrating Comprehensive-District Agricultural Plan (C-DAPs) prepared by the District Agriculture Department in consultation with allied sectors. The Institute was entrusted with the task of peer reviewing C-DAPs for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh. The C-DAP evaluation reports confirmed the following: the states vary significantly in following the C-DAP guidelines with respect to: bottom-up participatory approach; comprehensiveness; convergence of C-DAP and write-up. Institutionalization and operationalisation of C-DAPs is still partial; participatory bottom-up approach is not sufficiently followed. Technical support institutions were mostly used to prepare C-DAPs rather than being facilitators; a majority of states focused C-DAPs on RKVY instead of integrating programmes and schemes of non- governmental organizations. Besides, there is little awareness about bottom-up approach of the planning process among farmers.

This project aimed to assess the efficacy and impact of the Revival Package on the STCCS and to suggest measures to remove shortcomings observed in implementation as also to fulfill the requirements of the various covenants contained in Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by State Government/s with Government of India and NABARD. The results show that it would take time for DCCBs in Haryana to stabilize their performance. All the provisions in the MoU have been incorporated in the Amendments with the exception of 4 provisions. As regards one amendment (Section 27), it was suggested by NABARD, but the State government is of the view that this provision is not necessary. In Haryana debt waiver and debt relief package and revival package has affected the performance of PACS that were better performing. The recovery rate fell drastically in 2008, but is slowly recovering. Merger has also not been well received by farmers. It appears that one-time revival would not help PACS in Haryana. The study has thrown up one or two points, which can be made use by other states: Merger of PACS was not a good experience in the state of Haryana .Therefore, any other state considering such a step should study the experience of the state of Haryana. Abolition of section 104 (on the strength of which a cooperative society can attach assets of borrowers) has not been a positive step in the state. Any other state considering such a step should therefore study the experience of Haryana first. Stability in the incumbency on the part of managers and secretaries has been observed to be useful in the state. The same can be replicated by other states.

The objective of this report was to present the blue print and present status of urban reform in Rajasthan. It had three components: Status Report on Urban Reforms in Rajasthan, State Level Background Paper on Rajasthan and City Level Background Paper on Ajmer and Pushkar. The study highlights that the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (CAA), 1992 was one such initiative, which gave constitutional recognition to the urban local bodies along with the constitutional right to exist. It provides a basis for the State Legislatures to transfer various responsibilities to municipalities and to strengthen municipal -level governance. Furthermore, the process was strengthened by launching Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewable Mission (JNN URM) to ensure improvement in urban governance and service delivery so that ULBs become financially sound and sustainable.

The study was based on a primary survey of 81 castes in the other backward castes list of the State government with an aim to determine inter-se backwardness of 81 other backward castes using parameters/ indicators such as educational backwardness, representation in public services etc. The survey was conducted in both rural as well as in urban areas of the State. It consisted of 91,148 households with rural sample of 7,421 1 other backward caste households and the urban sample of 16,937other backward caste households. The survey highlighted that overall, education level amongst other backward caste groups in Rajasthan is low; higher educational attainment is minimal. There are wide inter-caste group variations in educational attainment at all levels. In all the 81 other backward caste groups, only 3.6 percent households have at least one member of the household in government employment. Of these 52 percent are in state government employment and 48 percent are in central government employment. This is a very low representation in government service. There are no households amongst 23 other backward caste categories including Gadia Lohar where not a single member of the household is in government service. Thus, the results show that even if these other backward caste groups have obtained government jobs they are mainly low paying jobs in Grade 4. Hence, there are still miles to go for these caste groups before they reap the benefits of development and affirmative action of the State.

This project, supported by EDCIL/Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, was conducted in six states, namely: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Assam and Andhra Pradesh. The Rajasthan study was carried out by the Institute. The main objectives of the project were to map the nature of participation of students from diverse social groups in the school, in the classroom and extracurricular activities. Four districts were identified for the study to capture the regional variations- Dausa, Tonk, Udaipur and Jodhpur. The study brought out that there is a huge gap between policy directives on minimizing exclusionary practices and day to day schooling experiences of children from disadvantaged groups. The study shows that there is a reproduction of dominant caste hierarchies and gender identities and stereotypes across numerous school and classroom processes. The social relations and pedagogic processes followed in schools have not succeeded in ensuring full participation of children from disadvantaged and marginalised groups. The study indicates that caste lines are well defined and sharply come into play in food, water and work related practices. No particularly inclusive practices/strategies have been adopted by the teachers to minimise the gap.

The Institute is one of the Monitoring Institutions identified by the Department of School Education and literacy, Ministry of Human Resources, Government of India for carrying out Monitoring of Sarva Shikha Abhiyan (SSA) in Rajasthan for the period October 2010-September 2012. The main objective of the ongoing monitoring includes making an assessment and analysing the implementation of the approved interventions and processes underlying these interventions at the habitation and school level keeping in view the overarching goals of SSA and provisions under RTE Act 2009; identifying the social, cultural, linguistic or other barriers coming in the way of successful implementation of schematic interventions and attainment of goals. During the current year monitoring reports covering Ajmer, Baran, Chitlorgarh and Bikaner, Dungarpur, Jaisalmer, Pali and Pratapgarh districts have been prepared and shared with Government of Rajasthan and Government of India. Forty schools have been covered in these districts. The mid-day meal scheme has also been covered during the monitoring. The monitoring reports reveal that while there have been concentrated efforts to improve infrastructure facilities in the primary and upper primary schools, a large number of schools did not have adequate classrooms in proportion to enrolment of children.

The study facilitated identification of pockets of concentration of child labour, enumerating the number of children working in hazardous occupations, and to form the basis of the sanction of required number of schools in Jaipur district. The results revealed that children continue to be engaged in significant numbers in hazardous sectors despite existing stringent legislation against child labour particularly in hazardous industries. Most of the children are engaged in the informal sector with near absence of any provisions related to work hours. Parents decide to send their children for jobs as a desperate measure due to poor economic conditions. Under extreme economic distress, children are forced to forego educational opportunities and take up jobs which are mostly exploitative as they are usually underpaid and engaged in hazardous conditions. It is no wonder therefore, that poor households predominantly send their children to work in early ages of their life. The study suggests bringing more children under the network of the special schools under NCLP. Up scaling of the special schools under NCLP in terms of its geographical coverage and inclusion of large member of children who are otherwise neglected and out of school.

The present study was part of a bigger project being implemented by Centre for Economic and Social Studies, Hyderabad. It focused on issues of equality and empowerment in the context of women’s position relative to men. It explored how land and property rights can lead to women’s empowerment both in the economic as well as socio-political arenas. The key question addressed was how the conferment of land rights strengthens women’s position in the household, and their ability to challenge social and political gender inequalities. The study focused on two districts of the state, one more developed and one less developed i.e. Ganganagar and Udaipur respectively. It highlighted that land rights in the state are embedded in a strong cultural bias against female inheritance in the implementation of laws. This has prevented women from having ownership of land rights. Alongside several socio-cultural practices continue to exist which hinder women’s access to land and restrict the expansion of spaces in both agriculture as well in their participation in other domains at the household and community level. Women’s empowerment through land rights requires removing the barriers existing at various levels. One of the main challenges relates to the social acceptance of women’s right to land cutting across caste, class and religious groups. This needs to be addressed in a systematic manner. The study highlighted that to deter this practice the value of the release deed should be increased to 1/3rd of women’s share of land. Inheritance laws should be made more stringent and care should be taken while implementing laws to ensure that daughters are not deprived of their right to inheritance. The violation of the law of succession should be made a cognizable offence.

The study examined whether women’s participation in paid work enhances their well-being through a primary survey carried out among 300 women each in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. Specifically, the study examined the influence of women’s participation in paid work on autonomy, measured by participation in household decision -making and freedom from spousal violence. Additionally, the study tried to assess whether the varying conditions underlying women’s decision to take up paid work and the varying nature of employment exert varying influence on aspects of well-being mentioned above. The analysis, though suggestive in nature, brings out a number of important findings which have implications for policy. Currently married women engaged in paid regular work seem to have much higher levels of autonomy, indicated by participation in making all four decisions considered for the analysis, in both Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. These findings underline a couple of aspects that have implications for policy. Aside the positive influence on autonomy, women’s participation in paid work is likely to bring certain other qualitative changes, including respect within the family. Viewed against the above findings, public policies, like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, which promote women’s participation in paid work, assume added significance. However, to realise the full beneficial effects of paid work on women’s well-being, certain aspects become almost a prerequisite. Notable among them include some amount of education and eradication of poverty. In the combined presence of poverty and illiteracy, the influence of paid work on aspects of well-being would be much limited. Thus, social policies aiming at improving the educational attainment and food security of the poor households have the potential to contribute towards the enhancement of women’s well-being as well.

This project provided a gender policy and a gendered strategic action plan (GSAP) for the MPOWER project of the government of Rajasthan. The gender policy was developed in keeping with MPOWER’s organisational framework to ensure a gender sensitive approach towards the beneficiaries and institutions established (SHG/MGNDC’s) in MPOWER at the grassroots and district levels. The policy provided a broad guideline for ensuring that the programme is implemented in a gender sensitive manner. The main findings emerging from the gender analysis are that while the project has succeeded in forming women’s SHG, Gender mainstreaming strategies have not become an integral part of the Mpower project. At the level of the project structure the lack of women functionaries at the various levels has impacted project outcomes and this has resulted in lack of gender sensitivity in project implementation. It is also evident that only a few functionaries have undergone gender training and so far gender training has been seen as a one-time activity and not a continuous process. At the community level the project has mainly focused on savings and inter-loaning activities. The gender anlaysis of the Mpower project clearly shows that empowerment of poor, rural women cannot be restricted to merely improving their economic abilities.

The study is based on a field survey of members of SHGs who have availed credit from MFIs and major MFIs in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Important objectives of the study were to review the concept of governance in organizations involved in providing/ facilitating financial services to the poor and; review the experience and learning of enhancing/ facilitating governance structures and systems with specific tools. Major focus of the study was the way in which the issue of governance was addressed by MFIs. Governance in this context was defined as how the goal, vision and mission of the MFIs are translated into practice. Broadly, the study observed that the MFIs function as individual entities and seldom the vision and mission are reviewed. MFIs are run as any other profit oriented individual enterprises and the MFIs employ nefarious ways to extract the maximum from their clients, who are mostly the economically marginalized sections in the society.

The study attempted to assess and analyse the status and reasons of default-from members to SHG and from SHG to ban k, in respect to bank loans to Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) and non-SGSY SHGs; study the mechanisms and modalities dealing by Bank/ SHPIs and group for 100 per cent repayment; suggest measures to address the issue of loan defaults at Banks/ Sell Help Promoting Institutions (SHPIs) and SHGs levels. It was undertaken in Madhya Pradesh and Orissa and in total covered 200 SHGs (100 SHGs from each state and covering 57 villages from Orissa and 61 villages from Madhya Pradesh). Out of 200 sample SHGs, 46 of them were linked under SBLP of NABARD, 66 groups were linked under SGSY scheme, and the remaining 88 SHGs were linked under bank linkage programme (SBLP), NABARD and SGSY scheme). On an average, the rate repayment through own income was only 25.3 per cent. Importantly, the rate of repayment was found higher in group lending with joint liability (42.1%) against individual lending model (27.8%). It is observed that out of 152 groups who were linked under SGSY programs, 79.6 percent of them found defaulter. On the other hand, out ol48 SHGs linked under SBLP, 60.4 percent groups found defaulter. This shows that the rate of defaulter was more among SHGs linked through SGSY schemes rather than groups linked under SBLP. Significantly, in the first loan-cycle through SBLP and SGSY schemes, 7.3 percent and 34.7 percent groups became defaulter respectively. When the scheme of finance was shifted from SBLP to SGSY, 46 percent groups became defaulter. This indicates that when the groups get bigger loan or activity based loan from bank, especially through SGSY scheme, most of them opt for not to repay the loan and become defaulter.

The Institute is the nodal Institute of Childline Project of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. The Institute is involved in coordinating activities of the project in Jaipur implemented by various partner NGOs. Under the project quarterly progress reports are submitted to the Ministry on activities undertaken during the year. Format for documentation is prepared for feedback of open house and outreach. During the period April 2011 to March 2012, childline Jaipur conducted a total of 24 open houses at different locations. Childline Jaipur rescued 309 innocent children through a massive raid and resale operation by childline Jaipur along with police, Child Welfare Committee and labour department from Sanjay Nagar kacchi basti, bhatta basti, Hasanpura, Galta Gate and Ramganj working in zari (embroidery) units. Children were found working in small dingy rooms, with no light or ventilation. These small rooms were homes as well as workplaces for children trafficked from West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand. Childline Jaipur also organized National Initiative for Child Protection (NICP) workshop on child rights, JJ Act and ICPS with functionaries of police and railways. In the workshop functionaries of police department ensured to provide hand holding support in future by making every police station child friendly and by sticking 1098 posters there.