DOCSLIB.ORG

Social Determinants of Urban Indian Women's Health Status

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Social Determinants of Urban Indian Women's Health Status Social Determinants of Urban Indian Women’s Health Status Jyotsana Shukla, Amity University, India KEYWORDS: INDIAN WOMEN, HEALTH, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS, POVERTY, VIOLENCE Indian urban women have come a long way regarding careers and social standing. However, they still remain unaware of their personal well-being and health needs. Often, they ignore their health problems until the problems become unavoidable, chronic or even fatal. The present paper focuses on the determinants of women’s health in urban India, including accessibility of health services, education, gender, class and geographical location, employment, availability of services, social history and culture. The paper also suggests some changes required in policies for improving urban women’s health in India. Background Vandana Mishra, states “I am a natural winner and I had always believed that nothing but the best can happen to me! If only I had thought that even I can be sick. If only I had known that cancer will not spare me despite my looks, my fitness, my job and pay packet. If only I had taken some time out for myself” (Uterine Cancer Stage III patient) (Biswas, 2010). Health status is no longer considered an outcome solely of lifestyle choices. It is now believed that health is also influenced by social, political and economic factors. The sum-total of these factors are called the determinants of health. The current understanding of women’s health has gone beyond singular, individual, biomedical perspectives to include diverse factors such as the family, community, population, psychosocial, and cultural understandings. Social determinants of health also include such factors as education, income, employment, working conditions, environment, health services, and social support (Wuest et. al., 2002). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights(Article 25) states that, “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of him/herself and his/her family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social service. Everyone has the right to education” (What is Foreign Aid, 2010). According to the World Health Organization, “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the 88 Shukla: INDIAN WOMEN’S HEALTH absence of disease or infirmity”. “Good health requires provision of health care for prevention and treatment of disease and injury, good nutrition and a safe environment. The health of populations has many links with other sectors, such as economic, education, water and sanitation and gender” (Health, 2010). With the world ready to move into the 2nd decade of the 21st century, there is a phenomenal rise in the number of people living in urban areas. The urban population in the continents of Asia and Africa alone is expected to double in a period of 30 years (Earthscan, 2005). With its over a billion population, India has also witnessed the growth of urbanization, similar to other regions in Asia. In fact, India’s urban population is increasing at a faster rate than its total population. It is predicted that 41% (575 million people) of India’s population will be living in cities and towns by 2030, from the present level of 28% (286 million people). There is a close link between economic development and urbanization. Cities in India contribute over 55 % to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and urbanization has been recognized as an important component of economic growth (UNDP, 2009). Urban Poverty According to estimates of National Planning Commission of India, about 26% of urban population in India is living below the poverty line (Planning Commission, 2007). Using a human development framework, India’s Urban Poverty Report provides many insights into various issues of urban poverty, such as lack of basic services to urban poor, migration, urban economy and livelihoods, micro-finance for the urban poor, access to education and health, and the unorganized sector (Urban Poverty in India, 2007). It is interesting to note that the ratio of urban poverty in some of the larger states is higher than that of rural poverty in some of the smaller states. This is called the phenomenon of ‘Urbanization of Poverty’. Urban poverty correlates with problems of housing, clean water, sanitation, healthcare, access to education and social security. In the continuum of urban poverty, special needs of vulnerable groups like women, children and the aged are paramount. Poor people live in slums which are overcrowded, often environmentally polluted and lack basic civic amenities like clean drinking water, sanitation and health facilities. Most of the slum-dwellers are involved in informal sector activities (such as begging, selling used items in street corners, vending food items), where there is a constant threat of eviction, displacement, confiscation of goods and almost non-existent social security coverage (India: Urban Poverty Report, 2009). Along with other challenges, slum-dwellers also face the constant threat of forced eviction. A forced eviction refers to “the Shukla: INDIAN WOMEN’S HEALTH 89 involuntary removal of persons from their homes or land, directly or indirectly attributable to the state,” with either government assisted or unassisted relocation (Fact Sheet No.25, 1996). Forced evictions are common, and have been documented in several countries including Bangladesh, India, Kenya and Thailand. For example, residents of the Ambedkarnagar slum in Mumbai experienced eviction 45 times during a 10-year period. These evictions included destruction of some or all of the dwellings. The resettlement areas provided lacked basic infrastructure such as water and sanitation (Ompad et al., 2008). Social Determinants of Health (SDH) Social Determinants of Health are the conditions in which people live and work, and these conditions affect their opportunities to lead healthy lives. In March 2005, the World Health Organization set up a Commission on the Social Determinants of Health (WHO, 2005). The commission listed determinants like child development, gender, urban setting, employment, health system, measurement and evidence, globalization, and social exclusion, as central to tackling the prevailing inequalities of health in the world (Labonté & Schrecker, 2007). The final report of the commission concluded that growth alone is not sufficient to achieving health equity, the distribution of health services is equally important. The three important pillars of action according to the report are: 1) improve the conditions of life and the circumstances in which people live and work, 2) address the inequitable distribution of structural drivers—power, money and resources—at the global, national and local levels, and 3) measure the problem, evaluate the actions and address the issue of human resources through which health services can be delivered (Nayar & Kapoor, 2007). On the basis of the recommendations of the CSDH, the 62nd World Health Assembly, requested the Director-General of WHO to make social determinants of health a guiding principle, while taking into consideration the progress on objective indicators for monitoring the social determinants of health. The Assembly also recommended that the Director-General give priority to addressing social determinants of health, support the member states in promoting access to basic health services, provide support to member states in implementing a ‘health-in- all-policies’ approach to tackle inequities in health (Eighth plenary meeting, 2009). It is an accepted fact that basic health-care, family planning and obstetric services are essential for women, yet these facilities remain unavailable to millions of them in the developing world. Moreover, many believe that the health of families and communities are tied to the health of women. The illness or death of a woman has serious and far- 90 Shukla: INDIAN WOMEN’S HEALTH reaching consequences for the health of her children, family and community (The Importance of Women’s Health, 2005). Women’s Health in India In India, gender-based health indicators have shown improvement over time, however, these developments are still far from optimal. In comparison to the European states, the difference in gender- based indicators is enormous. For example, among cause-specific mortality rates, maternal mortality rate in India is 16.6 times, TB among the HIV positive population is 2.8 times, and age-standardized mortality rate from non-communicable diseases is 1.2 times the comparable rates in Europe. Only the incidence of cancer in India is significantly lower than in the EU (WHO, 2009). Indian Urban Women’s Morbidity The health of Indian women is linked to their status in society. The society is patriarchal, and there is a strong preference for sons in India. This bias sometimes results in the mistreatment of daughters. Further, Indian women have low levels of both education and formal labor force participation. Typically, they have little autonomy, living under the control of first their fathers, then their husbands, and finally their sons (Velkoff & Adlakha, 1998). To gain a better perspective on the health status of urban Indian women, it is important that we look at some of the selected diseases from which women frequently suffer, and compare them with the prevalence rates amongst their rural counterparts, and also compare them with men. Diabetes, Asthma & Goiter In cases of diabetes, asthma and goiter, urban women do worse than their rural counterparts. Also, women suffer from goiter more than men, both in rural and urban areas, by about 1.93 and 3.62 times, respectively. Moreover, urban women suffer more from asthma than their male counterparts (Sengupta & Jena, 2009). Cancer Though the incidence of cancer is still low in India compared to that of developed countries, incidence of breast and cervical cancer is becoming increasingly significant. According to the National Sample Survey (NSS, 2004), out of every 1000 women, 33 in urban areas and 39 in rural areas were hospitalized due to cancer. A recent survey done by WHO reveals that every year 132,082 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 74,118 die from the disease.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Current Health Scenario in Rural India
    Aust. J. Rural Health (2002) 10, 129–135 OriginalBlackwell Science, Ltd Article CURRENT HEALTH SCENARIO IN RURAL INDIA Ashok Vikhe Patil,1 K. V. Somasundaram2 and R. C. Goyal2 1International Association of Agricultural Medicine and Rural Health and 2Department of Community Medicine, Rural Medical College of Pravara Medical Trust, Maharashtra, India ABSTRACT: India is the second most populous country of the world and has changing socio-political- demographic and morbidity patterns that have been drawing global attention in recent years. Despite several growth- orientated policies adopted by the government, the widening economic, regional and gender disparities are posing challenges for the health sector. About 75% of health infrastructure, medical man power and other health resources are concentrated in urban areas where 27% of the population live. Contagious, infectious and waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea, amoebiasis, typhoid, infectious hepatitis, worm infestations, measles, malaria, tuberculosis, whooping cough, respiratory infections, pneumonia and reproductive tract infections dominate the morbidity pattern, especially in rural areas. However, non-communicable diseases such as cancer, blindness, mental illness, hyper- tension, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, accidents and injuries are also on the rise. The health status of Indians, is still a cause for grave concern, especially that of the rural population. This is reflected in the life expectancy (63 years), infant mortality rate (80/1000 live births), maternal mortality rate (438/100 000 live births); however, over a period of time some progress has been made. To improve the prevailing situation, the problem of rural health is to be addressed both at macro (national and state) and micro (district and regional) levels.
    [Show full text]
  • Sustainable Strategies for a Healthy India: Imperatives for Consolidating the Healthcare Management Ecosystem
    Sustainable Strategies for a Healthy India: Imperatives for Consolidating the Healthcare Management Ecosystem For private circulation only June 2013 www.deloitte.com/in Contents Health in India 1 Emerging trends and imperatives 3 Collaborate to Innovate 6 Creating and facilitating a collaborative environment 13 References 14 Contacts 16 2 Health in India – Status and successes India rightly brands itself as incredible. in-patient treatment, possibly making The country’s remarkable political, quality healthcare and private sector economic and cultural transformation facilities accessible to the poor. over the past few decades has made it a geopolitical force. Healthcare is However, these exciting opportunities one of the industries that marks this often mask certain urgent predicaments. strengthened global presence. The healthcare sector in India is As per industry reports, healthcare is currently at a cusp. Issues of access, poised to grow at an estimated annual affordability, quality of care and rate of 19 per cent to reach USD efficiency remain significant. A number 280 billion by 20201 with India being of reports have been published about recognized as a destination for world the poor health status of India, class healthcare. During the last decade compared to its Low and Middle the private sector grew to become the Income Country (LMIC) peers. In terms major provider of healthcare services. of vital statistics like infant mortality Its share of beds increased from 49 (IMR) and maternal mortality, India has per cent in 2002 to 63 per cent in lagged behind significantly. Even life 20102. As per NSSO 2008, the private expectancy, at 62 years, is three years sector accounted for 60 percent of all below the LMIC average.
    [Show full text]
  • Health in India Since Independence
    Health in India Since Independence 1 Sunil S. Amrith 1Birkbeck College, University of London February 2009 [email protected] BWPI Working Paper 79 Brooks World Poverty Institute ISBN : 978-1-906518-78-3 Creating and sharing knowledge to help end poverty www.manchester.ac.uk/bwpi Abstract This paper suggests that history is essential to an understanding of the challenges facing health policy in India today. Institutional trajectories matter, and the paper tries to show that a history of under-investment and poor health infrastructure in the colonial period continued to shape the conditions of possibility for health policy in India after independence. The focus of the paper is on the insights intellectual history may bring to our understanding of deeply rooted features of public health in India, which continue to characterise the situation confronting policymakers in the field of health today. The ethical and intellectual origins of the Indian state’s founding commitment to improve public health continue to shape a sense of the possible in public health to this day. The paper shows that a top-down, statist approach to public health was not the only option available to India in the 1940s, and that there was a powerful legacy of civic involvement and voluntary activity in the field of public health. Keywords: India, Health policy, Development policy, Colonial legacy, Disease eradication, Malaria control Acknowledgements This is a revised version of a paper presented at the workshop on History and Development Policy at the Brooks World Poverty Centre, Manchester, 7-8 April 2008. I am grateful to the organisers and all participants for helpful comments.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessing the Costs of Climate Change and Adaptation in South Asia
    Assessing the Costs of Climate Change and Adaptation in South Asia With a population of 1.43 billion people, one-third of whom live in poverty, the South Asia developing member countries (DMCs) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) face the challenge of achieving and sustaining rapid economic growth to reduce poverty and attain other Millennium Development Goals in an era of accentuated risks posed by global climate change. Economic losses in key sectors, such as agriculture, energy, transport, health, water, coastal and marine, and tourism, are expected to be significant, rendering growth targets harder to achieve. This report synthesizes the results of country and sector studies on the economic costs and benefits of unilateral and regional actions on climate change in ADB’s six South Asia Asia Adaptation in South Assessing the Costs of Climate Change and DMCs, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The study takes into account the different scenarios and impacts projected across vulnerable sectors and estimates the total economic loss throughout the 21st century and amount of funding required for adaptation measures to avert such potential losses. It is envisioned to strengthen decision-making capacities and improve understanding of the economics of climate change for the countries in South Asia. About the Asian Development Bank ADB’s vision is an Asia and Pacific region free of poverty. Its mission is to help its developing member countries reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of their people. Despite the region’s many successes, it remains home to approximately two-thirds of the world’s poor: 1.6 billion people who live on less than $2 a day, with 733 million struggling on less than $1.25 a day.
    [Show full text]
  • New World Syndrome (Obesity) in South India
    Mohan Reddy, 1:12 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/scientificreports.567 Open Access Open Access Scientific Reports Scientific Reports Review Article OpenOpen Access Access New World Syndrome (Obesity) in South India Mohan Reddy N, Kalyana Kumar ch and Kaiser Jamil* Mahavir Medical Research Center, Genetics Department, Masab Tank, Hyderabad-500008, A.P, India Abstract In developed and developing countries overweight and obesity are most prevalent nutritional problems. Indians now report more and more frequently with overweight, obesity, and their consequences. Obesity is not an immediately lethal disease itself, but has a significant risk factor associated with a range of serious non-communicable diseases in south Indian population. Obesity is a major driver for the widely prevalent Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension, Breast cancer and Dyslipidemia disorders. Hence, there is an urgent need to address the trouble and efforts should be made to prevent the epidemic of obesity and its allied health disasters in South India. Effort has been made in this article to review the data published on prevalence and mechanism of specific morbidity conditions in obese population with special reference to South India. Keywords: Obesity; South India; Adolescents; Health consequences; Adolescent obese children in South India Diabesity Various studies indicate that the prevalence of overweight and Introduction obesity amongst children of all ages is increasing in developing countries in the past few decades and studies from India also showed The world health organization has described obesity as one of the increased prevalence of obesity [7]. Indian data regarding current today’s most neglected public health problems, affecting every region trends in childhood obesity are emerging.
    [Show full text]
  • NCMH Background Papers·Burden of Disease in India NCMH Background Papers
    Burden of Disease in India Background Papers of the National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health Background Papers of the National Commission on Background Papers Macroeconomics and Health Burden of Disease in India National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, 2005 EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT • HEALTHY FUTURE 324 Gururaj NCMH Background Papers·Burden of Disease in India NCMH Background Papers Burden of Disease in India 324 Gururaj NCMH Background Papers·Burden of Disease in India NCMH Background Papers Burden of Disease in India lR;eso t;rs National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi September 2005 iv NCMH Background Papers—Burden of Disease in India (New Delhi, India), September 2005 Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Nirman Bhawan, Maulana Azad Road New Delhi 110011, India Dosage schedules are being constantly revised and new side-effects recognized. The reader is thus strongly urged to consult the printed instructions of drug companies before administering any of the drugs recommended in this book. It is possible that errors might have crept in despite our best efforts to check drug dosages. © 2005 National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health, Government of India The report has been technically edited by BYWORD EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS New Delhi, India e-mail: [email protected] Printed at Shree Om Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., A-98/3 Okhla Industrial Area, Phase II, New Delhi 110020 NCMH Background Papers·Burden
    [Show full text]
  • District Health Society Begusarai
    DISTRICT HEALTH ACTION PLAN 2012-2013 DISTRICT HEALTH SOCIETY BEGUSARAI-1- Foreword This District Health Action Plan (DHAP) is one of the key instruments to achieve NRHM goals. This plan is based on health needs of the district and recognizing the importance of Health in the process of economic and social development and improving the quality of life of our citizens, the Government of India has resolved to launch the National Rural Health Mission to carry out necessary architectural correction in the basic health care delivery system. After a thorough situation analysis of district health scenario this document has been prepared. In the plan, it is addressing health care needs of rural poor especially women and children, the teams have analyzed the coverage of poor women and children with preventive and primitive interventions, barriers in access to health care and spread of human resources catering health needs in the district. The focus has also been given on current availability of health care infrastructure in public/NGO/private sector, availability of wide range of providers. This DHAP has been evolved through a participatory and consultative process, wherein community and other stakeholders have participated and ascertained their specific health needs in villages, problems in accessing health services, especially poor women and children at local level. The goals of the Mission are to improve the availability of and access to quality health care by people, especially for those residing in rural areas, the poor, women and children. I need to congratulate the department of Health and Family Welfare and State Health Society of Bihar for their dynamic leadership of the health sector reform programme and we look forward to a rigorous and analytic documentation of their experiences so that we can learn from them and replicate successful strategies.
    [Show full text]
  • REFERENC:ES References
    CHAPTER11 REFERENC:ES References Alcorn, J.B. 1984. Huastac Mayan Ethnobotany. University of Texas Press, Austin. Anonymous, 1950. Constitution of India. Part XVI. Special provisions relating to certain classes. New Delhi, Government of India. Anonymous, 1976. Wealth of India. Vol. I- XI. CSIR, New Delhi. Anonymous, 1991a.Census of India, 199I. District Census Handbook - Jalpaiguri. Series 26, Part XII(A). Jalpaiguri District Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Anonymous, 1991b. Census of India. State District Profile, Assam. Anonymous, 1999. The Adivasis ofIndia. Minority Rights Group, International Report. Anonymous, 2000. National Family Health Survey 1998-1999. International Institute of Population Sciences. Mumbai, International Institute of Population Sciences. Anonymous, 2001a. Statistical data for West Bengal. Government of West Bengal, Calcutta. Anonymous, 2001b. Total population, population of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and their proportions to the total population. Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner. New Delhi, Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner. Anonymous, 2001c. Statistical Data for West Bengal. Directorate of Census Operations. Government of West Bengal, Calcutta. Anonymous, 2001d. Census Report of2001. Sub-Divisional Office, Gossaigaon, Assam. Anonymous, 2002. Kokrajhar District Administration. Available in: http://kokrajhar.nic.inlaboutdist.htm. Anonymous, 2004. The National Tribal Policy (draft). Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Govt. of India, New Delhi, India. Available in: http://tribal.nic.in/final Content. pdf. Accessed 26 September 2006. Arora, R.K. 1977. Job's tears (Coix lachrymal-jobi) a minor food cum fodder crop of North-East India. Econ. Bot. 31: 358 - 366. Arora, R.K. 1987. Ethnobotany and its role in the domestication and conservation of native plant genetic resource.
    [Show full text]
  • Health and Morbidity in India (2004-2014) SHAMIKA RAVI RAHUL AHLUWALIA SOFI BERGKVIST BROOKINGS INDIA QUALITY
    BROOKINGS INDIA QUALITY. INDEPENDENCE. IMPACT Health and Morbidity In India (2004-2014) SHAMIKA RAVI RAHUL AHLUWALIA SOFI BERGKVIST BROOKINGS INDIA QUALITY. INDEPENDENCE. IMPACT Brookings India Research Paper © 2016 Brookings Institution India Center No. 6, Second Floor, Dr. Jose P Rizal Marg Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110021 www.brookings.in Recommended citation: Ravi, Shamika; Ahluwalia, Rahul; Bergkvist, Sofi (2016). “Health and Morbidity in India (2004-2014),” Brookings India Research Paper No. 092016. The Brookings Institution India Center serves as a platform for cutting-edge, independent, policy-relevant research and analysis on the opportunities and challenges facing India and the world. The Center is based in New Delhi, and registered as a company limited by shares and not for profit, under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956. Established in 2013, the Center is the third and newest overseas center of the Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institution. Our work is centered on the Brookings motto of “Quality, Independence, Impact.” All content reflects the individual views of the author(s). Brookings India does not hold an institutional view on any subject. Cover Photo: Vinoth Chandar, under Creative Commons License Health and Morbidity in India (2004-2014)1 Shamika Ravi (Brookings Institution, India Center) Rahul Ahluwalia (Brookings Institution, India Center) Sofi Bergkvist (ACCESS Health International) August 2016 1 We are grateful to Indrani Gupta, Anit Mukherjee, Sandhya Venkateswaran, Rajeev Sadanandan and Alok Kumar for detailed comments and a special thanks to Dr. Archna Singh at AIIMS for helping with ailment data. We gratefully acknowledge The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for supporting this study.
    [Show full text]
  • Framing Women's Health Issues in 21St Century India
    Framing Women’s Health Issues in 21st Century India - A Policy Report The George Institute for Global Health India, May 2016. The George Institute for Global Health, India 219-221, Splendor Forum, Plot No. 3 Tel: +91 11 4158 8091-93 Jasola District Centre Fax: +91 11 4158 8090 New Delhi 110025 India [email protected] Foreword Does the Indian healthcare system treat the women of Several groups have made calls to address the growing the country in a fair and just manner? And what can we NCD epidemic amongst women (and men), and for taking do to make sure that it can fi rst recognize the needs, a life-course agenda that integrates care for SRH issues and then develop effective and sustainable programs and NCDs in women. This is also refl ected in the new to remove barriers towards achievement of optimal United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals health for Indian women? (SDGs) that aim to promote healthy lives and well-being for all, as well as gender equality. We know that overall life expectancy has increased in India over time, women in fact have a higher life Towards this end, The George Institute for Global Health, expectancy than men, and there have been substantial India organized a women’s health policy dialogue in improvements in the management of conditions that were Delhi on March 15. Participants included an array of responsible for the largest number of deaths and disability stakeholders working in the area of women’s health – amongst Indian women 25 years ago. The maternal from academics and doctors to civil society members, mortality rate – an important healthcare indicator – has media and corporates.
    [Show full text]
  • Womens' Empowerment
    Directory of Voluntary Organisations Women’s Empowerment 2010 Documentation Centre for Women and Children (DCWC) National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development 5, Siri Institutional Area, Hauz Khas, New Delhi – 110016 Number of Copies: 100 Copyright: National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development, 2010 Project Team Project In-charge : Mrs. Meenakshi Sood Project Team : Ms. Renu Banker Ms. Alpana Kumari Computer Assistance : Mrs. Sandeepa Jain Mr. Abhishek Tiwari Acknowledgements : Ministry of Women and Child Development Planning Commission Voluntary Organisations Ministry of Rural Development Ministry of Panchayati Raj Ministry of Tribal Affairs Ministry of Urban Development DISCLAIMER All efforts have been made to verify and collate information about organisations included in the Directory. Information has been collected from various sources, namely directories, newsletters, Internet, proforma filled in by organisations, telephonic verification, letter heads, etc. However, NIPCCD does not take any responsibility for any error that may inadvertently have crept in. The address of offices of organisations, telephone numbers, e-mail IDs, activities, etc. change from time to time, hence NIPCCD may not be held liable for any incorrect information included in the Directory. Foreword Voluntary organisations play a very important role in society. They take up activities in the area of their expertise and provide support to the community in whose welfare they have interest. Social development has been ranked high on the priority list of Government programmes since Independence, and voluntary organisations have been equal partners in accelerating the pace of development. Being in close proximity to the community, voluntary organisations have done pioneering work in many areas, rendered productive services, highlighted several social problems, undertaken advocacy, and lobbied for the rights of the underprivileged.
    [Show full text]
  • Kerala: Radical Reform As Development in an Indian State
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 400 149 RC 020 745 AUTHOR Franke, Richard W.; Chasin, Barbara H. TITLE Kerala: Radical Reform As Development in an Indian State. 2nd Edition. INSTITUTION Institute for Food and Development Policy, San Francisco, Calif. SPONS AGENCY Montclair State Coll., Upper Montclair, N.J.; National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. REPORT NO ISBN-0-935028-58-7 PUB DATE 94 CONTRACT BNS-85-18440 NOTE 170p. AVAILABLE FROMFood First Books, Subterranean Company, Box 160, 265 South 5th St., Monroe, OR 97456 ($10.95). PUB TYPE Books (010) Reports Research/Technical (143) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC07 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Caste; *Developing Nations; *Economic Development; Equal Education; Females; Foreign Countries; *Literacy; *Poverty Programs; Public Health; Resource Allocation; Rural Areas; Rural Urban Differences; *Social Action; Social Change IDENTIFIERS *India (Kerala State); Land Reform; *Reform Strategies; Social Justice; Social Movements ABSTRACT Kerala, a state in southwestern India, has implemented radical reform as a development strategy. As a result, Kerala now has some of the Third World's highest levels of health, education, and social justice. Originally published in 1989, this book traces the role that movements of social justice played in Kerala's successful struggle to redistribute wealth and power. A 21-page introduction updates the earlier edition. This book underlines the following positive lessons that the Kerala experience offers to developing countries: Radical reforms deliver benefits to the poor even when per capita incomes remain low. Popular movements and militant progressive organizations with dedicated leaders are necessary to initiate and sustain reform. Despite their other benefits, radical reforms cannot necessarily create employment or raise per capita income.
    [Show full text]