Papers presented at the National Workshop on Voluntary Action for Self-reliant Village : Vision India 2020.

Papers presented at the National Workshop on Voluntary Action for Self-reliant Village : Vision India 2020.

This book deals with a wide range of issues related to rural-urban migration in the context of neoliberal economic development in India. Focusing on three core areas, first it traces state discourses on rural-urban migration in India since the 1930s critically analysing its industrial, labour, rural and urban programmes, and policies. Second, through data on longitudinal surveys undertaken in rural Bihar in 1999, 2011 and 2016, it examines changes in patterns of migration and sources of income; estimates determinants and impacts of migration. Third, based on fieldwork in the village and the city, it presents an in-depth account of a rural-urban migration stream in contemporary India. It shows how, contrary to the results of conventional data sources such as the Census and NSSO, that mobility is high in rural Bihar, and has significantly increased over time as a result of rising labour demand in distant urban markets elsewhere in India. Further, it also provides evidence of decoupling of agriculture from the ‘rural’ in India. Combining quantitative and qualitative methods in development research, this book will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of development studies, migration studies, development economics, sociology, demography, public policy, and South Asian studies.

Papers presented at the National Workshop on Voluntary Action for Self-reliant Village : Vision India 2020.

Provide Help and Create Hope For the past 12 years I have been working with the nursing homes in USA in the capacity of a priest and a social worker. I am providing care in 24 nursing homes, assisted living facilities and hospices in 4 districts (counties) in the State of Texas as well as visiting hospitals and area prisons. I consider it more than a job but rather a life-giving commitment for life enrichment and to make the people happier with a professional and spiritual outlook. It is a holistic approach for the well-being of every resident to improve the quality of life. We cannot divide body and soul and treat separately. Physical, psychological, social and spiritual wellbeing are intimately connected, go hand in hand and support each other for self fulfilment and self-realization. In these nursing homes I meet people from all over the world. For example, the majority are from USA, then from Mexico, Cuba, Honduras, Germany, England, Japan, Bangladesh, China, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Italy and Vietnam. People from these countries practice different religions. They are from different colour, ethnicity and race. I hear the residents speaking in different languages although they do not fully understand, yet are able to communicate their immediate needs. They live under one roof as members of the same family and eat the same food in the same dining room cooked by the same staff in the same kitchen. When I conduct prayer services or gatherings, those who are interested will come no matter which faith or religion they follow. As someone said to me “although I belong to a different religion I would love to come and join here for prayer.” I have never felt any discrimination based on religion, language, nationality or racism in these facilities. In these nursing homes there is no division or hate based on religion, colour or race but only bridges which promote solidarity, love, harmony and universal brotherhood. If these people can live under one roof, eat the same food and pray together then what excuses do we have? No religion teaches division, hate or retaliation but promotes only Love and compassion. My wish is to see the promotion of religion of Humanity by everyone and the practice of God’s Love everywhere.

The administrators of city or a town adopt two approaches to evaluate the urban places and the impact of urbanization. The first approach undertakes the Study of size, function, growth rate, and tributary area of cities in the general fabric of settlements. The second approach deals with the internal structure of cities and the related factors, which control the layout and buildings, the character and intensity of land use, the movement of persons and goods between various functional areas. The land use planning is a part of larger process of city planning. It is basically concerned with location, intensity, and amount of land development required from various space using functions of city life, such as, industry, wholesaling business, housing, recreation, education, and religious and cultural activities of the people. The study of urban land use and its planning is of considerable significance in the overall planning of urban places like Gadag-Betageri city. Decline and decay of our cities calls for all policy makers, administrators and Politicians to stop destructive forces of the urban development and to forge alliances among all local and national forces which are concerned with the social, political, economic, ecological, physical and cultural development of our cities and towns. Despite the claims that developments in communications imply that the cities are Remote Sensing and GIS going to lose their function and will change dramatically, it cannot be predicted that the new paradigm of the 'information city' will only represent another device of those who do not have access to information technology.]

India’s northeastern region, forged by a unique geological history and peopled by several waves of migration, is extraordinarily complex. Farming systems in the hills and the riverine plains are embedded in a heterogeneous environment, comprising forests, wetlands and fields, shaped over centuries by nature and people. Today, the environment and economy are undergoing rapid transformation, affecting peoples’ lives, livelihoods and methods of food production. The essays in this volume bring a multi-disciplinary perspective to critical aspects of the process of agricultural change, examine the gender dimensions of agriculture, and explore initiatives for sustainable livelihood and ecological conservation. Part I analyses the impact of policies and people’s own aspirations on the closely-intertwined ecology and economy of the region. Part II discusses the gender dynamics of farming, forestry and biodiversity in a socio-cultural context where women are primarily responsible for food production. Part III highlights some alternative farming interventions and community-based efforts for environmental conservation, sustainable resource management and improved livelihoods. This book will be useful to scholars and students of agriculture, economics, development, environment and gender studies, and to those involved in policy analysis, natural resource management and community organisation, as also general readers interested in India’s northeastern region.