Indian microfinance: lessons from Bangladesh

That more than three-fourths of old SHGs in every year remain outside credit linked further with mainstream banks in India makes the doubt whether old SHGs are becoming non-existent within a very short period of their formation. The re-survey to some previously productive SHGs makes the doubt stronger. But to set up a successful enterprise by poor SHG members’ households to earn a sustainable living under microcredit programmes of Grameen Bank, Bangladesh, loans are received by their borrowers in a continuous sequence; and to this process, ‘customer-made credit service’ and ‘flexible loan’ are locally designed a best suited for borrowersself help groups; microcredit; Grameen Bank; flexible loan

Social and economic implications of HIV/AIDS: evidence from West Bengal

Based on household level’ field survey in West Bengal State in Indian context, this study suggests that poverty and lower level of human capital provide the basic initiatives for both rural –urban migration and risky occupational choice for household’s income, and thus contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS. Also, the HIV/AIDS epidemic of those economically and socially disadvantaged households leads to the consequence of absolute economic and social poverty within a short period after its detection. Despite such a consequence of absolute economic and social poverty, the benefit of actions by government or non-government organizations is insignificant for themSocio-economic reasons; Socio-economic implications, Benefit of actions; Rural-Urban Migration; Economically ; Socially disadvantaged households

Development theory and gendered approach to development: some theoretical issues in the Third World’s perspective

Several gendered approaches to development– like the variants (equity, ‘anti-poverty’ and ‘efficiency’ approaches) of WID (Women in Development), GAD (General and Development), DAWN (Development Alternatives’ for a New Era)–influenced, mainly, by liberal and social feminists have emerged, in part as critiques of the major theoretical approaches to development– modernization theory, underdevelopment and dependency theory and neo-liberalism-in the Third World countries since the 1950s and linked them to policy prescription. A major Policy Prescription that comes out from this analysis is the predominance of ‘efficiency approach’ of WID– development plans and projects are made more efficient and effective through women’s economic contribution-with active involvement of women in development polices and projects. Although parts of the feminists agenda have been incorporated into development plans and projects, the new directions have wider, impact for gender equity and efficiency in all development policy and planning in these countries in futurefeminists; development– modernization theory; efficiency approach

Planning in India: where is natural resources in the development strategy?

Neither the draft approach paper to the previous plan strategies nor the draft approach of Eleventh Five Year Plan of India (2007- 12) address natural capital as a sources of growth in the development strategy of Indian Planning . But, it is argued that the development or degradation of natural capital makes a big difference to the life of masses. Also, the theoretical model in development economics argues that if the disadvantages of resource and land limitations are very larger than the advantages of technological progress, it will cause the growth of income per worker falling. So, without any piecemeal development programme, sustainable development programmes that integrates natural capital with the continuous development process strengthening the links between environmental regeneration and economic growth needs to be addressed in the planning strategy of India through continuous and integrated programmes and the schemes.Natural resources; Livelihood Assets; Five capital assets; Natural Capital in Development Economics

Sustainable Rural Livelihoods under Joint Forest Managment (JFM) Programme: An Evidence from West Bengal, India

The objectives of this article are to assess linkages and impact of participatory JFM Programme on Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (SRL) across socio-economic group of forest fringe communities. The study is based four sample FPCs – one female FPC and three joint FPCs - under Midnapore and Bankura districts in West Bengal. The results from this study suggest that the JFM Programme under the sample FPCs/Villages in West Bengal is participatory. With regard to the SRL framework, strong sustainability criteria meet for very poor and poor households, which live below poverty line and are dependent on forest resource for their livelihood security. The study suggests that force or law cannot effectively control illegal collection of TFPs for the households living below poverty line, until a considerable increase in the collection of legal forest products – NTFPs, fuelwood etc. – and wage income from forest provide for their minimum livelihood security.joint forst management,sustainable rural livelihood,non-timber foerst product

Socio-economic issues of prawn-seed collection in an open riverene fishery: a case study of prawn-seed collectors in West Bengal

This paper attempts to examine the socio-economic status of prawn seed collectors, who traditionally live on fishing, in open riverene fishery under 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. The study suggests that the prawn seed collectors’ households are the most vulnerable segment among the poorest of the poor and live under BPL (Below Poverty Line) category. There is high incidence of illiteracy, unemployment, poverty, negligence of children’s health and high family size among the majority of prawn seed collectors’ households. Despite the disliking of this occupation, female and adolescent girls, acting as main earners of their households, are compelled to be engaged in prawn seed collection to support their families in addition to their household duties at the cost of hard labour over day and night; high risks and high occupational health hazard; the monthly income of these families is too low to support their families throughout the year and other members of their families have to supplement them with subsidiary sources of income. The study also suggests that the practice of prawn seed collection under open riverene fishery is economically inefficient, ecologically unsustainable and socially unsoundopen riverene fishery; ecologically unsustainable; health hazard

Institution of politically motivated policy certainty of government on economic growth: a study among major Indian states

This paper theoretically tries to explore the impact of politically motivated policy certainty of a government guided by the norm of equality of income on economic growth and also tries to examine its empirical validity on major Indian states. This paper lends credence to the fact that politically motivated policy uncertainty among most of the major Indian states under this study has positive impact on their economic growth. This study suggests that the policy of attaining inclusive growth for Indian states should be formalized in such a way that equality in income distribution and economic growth should be attained simultaneously.politically motivated policy certainty; major Indian states; income distribution; reproducible capital

Analysis of Risk Behavior of Households: Evidence from Gender Sensitive JFM Programme in West Bengal

In an attempt to examine the extent of risk faced by households under gender sensitive JFM programme in West Bengal, this study suggests that JFM programme could reduce more risk related hardship for JFM households by their increase (decrease) in time and income on forest (non-forest) related works which non-JFM households fail to receive. Within JFM villages, female FPC-households not only yield higher per capita net real income but also contribute female’s higher share of their family income, which they only receive from forest source, than their men’s after JFM situation indicating higher diversification of forest works in female FPC-villages.Joint forest management, forest protection committee villages, non-joint forest management villages, income Risks, idiosyncratic risks

Market integration, competitiveness and efficiency in urban vs. rural markets: male and female flower trading farms in West Bengal

[This paper seeks to measure the magnitude of inter temporal and spatial variations in the prices of flower crop between same type of marketing institutions as well as different types of marketing institutions and to assess the competitiveness and efficiency of marketing in the rural and urban trade markets of flower crops in West Bengal in Indian context where female act as important marketing agents. This study suggests that trade market for most of flower crops are not efficient in the area we studied. However, price per unit for all flower crops is lower in village level markets, and female marketing agents offer lower price for all flower crops in all types of markets. Also, the marketing efficiency for some flower crops is somewhat higher for female marketing agentsInter-temporal and spatial price variation ; Modified marketing efficiency ; Urban and rural markets; Female and male flower marketing farms

Impact of microcredit programmes on women empowerment: an empirical study in West Bengal

Based on an empirical study in West Bengal, this paper attempts to examine whether women‟s involvement in the microcredit programme through SHGs makes any positive change on women‟s empowerment that appears from the assessment on various indicators of power, autonomy and self-reliance, entitlement, participation , awareness and capacity-building. The study suggests that if women participating in the microcredit programme through SHGs sustain for some longer period (eight years or more), such a programme might contribute to higher level of women‟s empowerment than all types of control groups under studyWomen‟s empowerment; Power, Autonomy and Self-reliance; Entitlement; Participation and Awareness and Capacity-building