Reimagining Prosperity: Social and Economic Development in Post-COVID India

Contents
Contributors
List of Figures
List of Tables
1 Introduction
Reference
2 Summoning the Collective Will and Courage to Seek Economic Justice
References
3 Economic Justice in Post-COVID India: A Macroeconomic Perspective
Introduction
Fault Lines
Caste
Gender
The Informal Sector and the Lack of a Social Safety Net
A Policy Framework for Economic Justice
Importance of Inclusive Institutions
Public Spending for Inclusive Institutions
Markets and Inequality
Conclusion
References
4 Labour Reforms and Economic Justice: Inequality, the COVID-19 Pandemic and Regionalism
Introduction
Inequality in Various Dimensions of Development in India in a Global Context
Pandemic, Vulnerability and Public Perception
Relaxations in Labour Laws at State Level for Creating Employment for Local Populations
Conclusion
References
5 Youth Unemployment, Education and Job Training: An Analysis of PLFS Data in India
Introduction
Education, Skill Mismatch and Youth Unemployment: Some Studies
Data and Variables
Summary of Findings
Youth Unemployment and the Pandemic
Activity Status of the Youth by the Level of Education
Youth Unemployment and Education
Youth Unemployment by Social Groups
Econometric Methods
Empirical Results
Summary and Conclusions
References
6 Women, Work and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Paving the Path Forward
Introduction
Overview of Economic Barriers Facing Women
Gender Norms and Unpaid Care Work
Labour Processes and Labour Relations in the Informal Sector
Need for Formalisation of Informal Sector
Gender Blindness in the Design of Policies
Urgent Need for Gender-Disaggregated Data
The Gendered Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Path Forward
References
7 Whither Adivasi Livelihoods? A Longitudinal Study of a Bhil Village in Gujarat
Introduction
Changing Adivasi Livelihoods: A Brief Review of Literature
The Study and Its Objectives
A Profile of Mahudi Village and the Bhil Community
Changing Resource Base of Mahudi
Livelihood Sources and Occupational Structure
Agriculture and Livestock
Non-Farm Employment and Migration
Seasonal and Circulatory Migration
Living Conditions of the Adivasis
Education and Skill Development
Housing and Other Amenities
Welfare Schemes
Conclusion
References
8 Transforming India’s Agrarian Society in a Post-COVID World: Prospects and Challenges
Evolution of Indian Agriculture
The Green Revolution
Preparing the Ground for Change
The Future of the Landless Labourer
Political Empowerment in the Rural Sector
Women in Rural Society
9 Impact of COVID-19, Lockdowns and Economic Slowdown on Food and Nutrition Security in India
Context of Food Security and Malnutrition in India Prior to the COVID Pandemic
COVID-19 and Economic Slowdown: Impact on Food Insecurity and Malnutrition
Response of Government of India
Way Forward
References
10 Degrowth, Diversity and Decentralisation: Building Sustainable Food Systems for Food and Nutrition Security
Introduction
Degrowth
Diversity
Decentralisation
Feeding the Billions
Concluding Remarks: Changing the Measures of Success
References
11 Water Management Priorities in a Post-COVID World
Growing Water Scarcity
Water: Contrasting Approaches
Five Priority Areas
Agricultural Water Management
Groundwater Management
Protecting River Systems and Wetlands
Water Quality and Drinking Water Security
Legislative Action
Conclusion
References
12 Principles for Water Governance in a Post-COVID World: Water Sector Needs to Be Embedded in Environmental Justice
Introduction
Anthropocene and Water
Climate Change/Crisis
Hydraulic Mission
Water Flowing to the Sea is a Waste
Environmental Justice and Water
Guiding Principles of Water Governance
Interventions as per the Contours of Nature
Rights of Nature; Rights of Rivers
From Supply-Side Options to More Demand Management Options
Reconceptualising Water-Use Prioritisation
Equitable Access to Water
Adaptive Management
Democratisation of the Water Sector
References
13 Seeing Water Differently
Introduction
Narratives and Policy Choice
Mainstreaming Gender
Straddling the Rural–Urban Water Divide: Attention to Peri-Urban Spaces
The Changing Nature of Water Resources Education
Conclusion: Translating these Ideas into Practice
References
14 Reclaiming Their Place in the City: Narratives of Street Food Vendors of Bengaluru During the COVID Crisis
Introduction
Literature Review
Politics of Space
Belongingness to the City—Space and Place-Making by the Street Vendors
Negotiating with Multiple Stakeholders
Street Vending in India
About the Study
Surviving the Pandemic—Narratives from the Ground
Quest for Alternative Livelihoods
Streets Without People: The Streets Have Opened, but is It Business as Usual?
Seeking to Live with Dignity
Finding a Way Forward
References
15 The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Female Domestic Workers in an Urban Setting
Introduction
Research Design and Data Source
Demographic Profile of Domestic Workers
Household Characteristics and Reasons for Taking Up Work as Domestic Workers
Deepening Economic Distress and Domestic Workers’ Increasing Precarity
The Need to Bolster Public Support and Livelihood Security for the Vulnerable
The Way Forward
Limitations of the Study
Conclusion
References
16 Impacts of COVID-19 on Public Health in Urban Slums in India and Lessons for the Future
Background
Impact of Lockdowns on Non-COVID Healthcare
Immunization of Infants and Young Children
Maternal and Childcare
Disruptions in the Treatment Regimen of Tuberculosis (TB)
Loss of Livelihoods
Food and Nutrition Security
The Education of Children
Coping Strategies
Maternal, Infant and Child Healthcare
Livelihoods
Food Security
Education of Children
Lessons for the Future
Focus on Enhancing Health Infrastructure in Small Cities with a Population Size of 500,000 to 3 Million
Address the Social Determinants of Health Through Coordinated Interventions
Enhancing the Capacities of Communities
Conclusion
References
17 Whose Knowledge Makes a City Smart? Exploring Conceptions of the Role of Knowledge in Urban Policy in Indore, India
Introduction
Theoretical Framework
Changes in Urban Development Paradigms in India: From the Early Twentieth Century to the Inception of the Smart Cities Mission
The City of Indore Under the Holkar Princely State (Early Twentieth Century–1947)
The Post-Independence Period Until Liberalization (1947–1991)
Post-Liberalization to Smart Cities Mission (1991–2014)
The Smart Cities Mission (2015–Present)
Findings from the BCSD Study in Relation to the Knowledge Resources of Urban Informal Settlement Dwellers
Critical Reflections on the Findings of the Study in Light of the Theoretical Framework
Conclusion
References
Index