Alka, Rajeshwari: Social Context of Inequalities: A Study of Health and Education among Children in Haryana
Children are affected differently in varying socio-economic environments. The space, place and environment trilogy affect health, levels of nutrition and education of children in a cumulative manner in terms of neglect and support of their wellbeing. Studies indicate that the wellbeing of children in the age-groups of 0 to 3 years, 4 to 5 years and 6 to 11 years has been affected by global economic changes and hence needs to be studied with these realities. This study seeks to analyse the status of health, nutrition and education of young children (0-14 years) in Haryana. The analysis is based on secondary data obtained from National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) and educational and National Family Health Surveys (NFHS). Inequalities have been studied with reference to rural-urban, male-female, social and economic groups, considered in terms of caste hierarchy and Monthly Per Capita Consumer Expenditure (MPCE) groups. The findings suggest that health, nutrition and educational status of children have improved during the study period. The children from privileged social group are better placed as compared to scheduled caste children.
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P. K. Sharma, Kaluram Chouhan: Identification of Rural Growth Centers and Hierarchical Order of Rural Settlements in Singrauli District of Madhya Pradesh, India
In developing countries like India, even after having a prolonged history of rural development planning, villages are still struggling to access most basic amenities and services. This study aims to establish the existing hierarchy of rural settlements in the Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh by identifying the existing Rural Growth Centres (RGCs). The study is based on secondary data obtained from the District Census Handbook, 2011. In order to find out the four-tier hierarchical arrangement of all the 727 villages in the study area, the Centrality Score (CS) has been calculated by considering 31 services at the village level. Five settlements recording CS value of more than 10.00 have been designated as RGCs which constitutes only 0.68 per cent of the inhabited villages. The base of the hierarchical pyramid of rural settlements is significantly wider which shows the largest concentration of settlements under the lowest category, which constitutes more than 75 per cent villages of the study area. This study provides a base for village level planning and can help to ensure that rural development is both sustainable and equitable.
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Fazlru Rahman, Wasim Akram: A Geographical Analysis of Food Security Status in Bihar, India
The present study attempts to highlight the status of food security and its components like food accessibility, availability and stability across the districts of Bihar, India. Based on secondary data, multidimensional index has been calculated through the indicators approach to assess the status of food security and its components. The results reveal that there are wide variations in terms of food security in the state depending upon the dissimilarities in availability, accessibility, and stability of food. Rohtas district has emerged as the most secure in terms of food security, followed by Kaimur, Katihar, Madhepura, and Nalanda districts. On the other hand, Madhubani district has been found as the most insecure, followed by Siwan, Purba Champaran, Gaya and Sitamarhi districts. The correlation matrix reveals that food availability and food stability are significantly associated with the food security index. Hence, study recommends that food accessibility in Bihar can be improved by removing the spatial disparity of food security.
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Manju, K.V. Chamar: Levels in Quality of Living Space among Female-headed Households in Rural India
Household is regarded as a fundamental social and economic unit of a society. Availability of assets and amenities in a household reflects quality of life of the people. Female-headed households generally have distinct socio-economic conditions. In this study an attempt has been made to analyze the levels in quality of living space among female-headed households in rural India. The study is based on district-wise census data on 15 selected indicators for the year 2011. The study reveals relatively better quality of living space among female-headed households in the north-western part, while low quality of living space has been witnessed mainly in central India. The worst situation has been found in the eastern parts in the form of small scattered patches. The study also highlights that more than nine-tenths of the female-headed households have their own house and four-fifths households have been enjoying the facility of kitchen inside the house. While, computer/laptop with internet has been available to less than one per cent of the female-headed households.
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Riti Deshmukh, Sabina Bano: Inequality in House Ownership among Female and Male Headed Households in Rural West Bengal
The ownership of any kind of property can be viewed as an important indicator of development. It provides a glimpse into the socio-economic well-being of the people. The ownership of property is intimately related to the gender of the head of the household. The house ownership of male and female-headed households is highly influenced by factors, like the social, cultural, and economic prevailing in rural areas. This leads to gender inequality, and variation in the distributional pattern of the house ownership. In this context, this paper intends to analyze the spatial variations of inequality in house ownership of female and male-headed households in rural West Bengal. The study reveals that only 12 per cent of the female heads of the households have the ownership of the house, against 88 per cent of the male-headed households having ownership. Further, 37 per cent inequality rate of the Gini Coefficient indicates a fairly reasonable gender gap in house ownership. The gender inequality rate is comparatively lower in the northern districts of rural West Bengal than in the southern districts. In this regard, districts such as South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur have recorded higher inequality, and only Darjiling district has witnessed the lowest inequality. The study further shows that inequality in house ownership is inversely associated with the number of female-headed households, and vice versa.
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Map Series-VI: R. C. Chandna: Punjab-Haryana Region: Male-Female Differential Index: Matric/Secondary Educated Population, 2011
In continuation with Map Series XV devoted to spatial pattern of matric/secondary level educated persons, the present series portrays the gender disparity in the study region. Using district level data, the male-female differential in matric/secondary education has been calculated and its spatial pattern has been depicted (Fig.1). The study region has displayed an average index of 0.18, while the corresponding figure for the country has been 0.13. Within study region, Punjab sub-region has been found better placed with index value of 0.13 which has been in tune with the national average. Haryana sub-region on the other hand, has relatively higher index value of 0.21. It indicates that gender-disparity in Punjab sub-region by now has narrowed down significantly, while Haryana sub-region might take a few decades to bring this index significantly down.
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Doctoral Abstract: Shamsher Singh: Spatial Pattern and Processes of Horticultural Development in Haryana during Post Liberalization Period
The economic significance of horticulture has increased during the recent period as it has become a remunerative enterprise for farmers in India. It has emerged as a crucial sub-sector of agriculture for the inclusive growth. There are various factors that have contributed to the development of horticulture in the state of Haryana during the last three decades. Firstly, more than two-fifth of the state falls within the geographical coverage of the National Capital Region (NCR). The markets of the national capital and towns of NCR have provided tremendous scope for commercial cultivation of vegetables, fruits, medicinal plants and other horticultural products. Secondly, fruits and vegetables processing units in the region require raw materials. Thirdly, the economic restructuring initiated in the early 1990s has provided impetus to horticultural growth. The changing food basket of the middle class and the opportunity for exporting tradable horticultural products have also helped its expansion during last three decades.
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In Memoriam: Dr. Devinder Singh Dhaliwal
It is with very heavy heart I share that former Principal, esteemed geographer and dedicated educator, Dr. Devinder Singh Dhaliwal, has left us for his Heavenly abode on May 30, 2023. Dr. Dhaliwal has left behind a legacy that will be cherished forever. Born at village Kot Mohammed Khan in Taran district of Punjab he was yet at an early age when his family shifted to village Haibatpur in Karnal district of Haryana.
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