By
Shobhita Rajagopal and RS Sharma
Sponsored by EDCIL/MHRD, Government of India

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.

By
Shobhita Rajagopal and RS Sharma
Sponsored by Ministry of Human Resource Development, New Delhi

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.

By
Jyotsana Rajvansh
Sponsored by Ministry of Labour, Government of India

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.

By
Kanchan Mathur, Shobhita Rajagopal and RS Sharma
Sponsored by Centre for Economic and Social Studies, Hyderabad

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.

By
Sunny Jose G
Sponsored by ICSSR, New Delhi

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.