This book, based on empirical data collected through census, interview-cum-observations including the case studies from a Bangladesh village, seeks to explore the survival characteristics of the poor. A multiple deprivations approach to poverty provides the study's conceptual framework. An uncertain as well as a very low income forced the poor day labourers, petty traders, artisans, small farmers, to adopt a variety of improvising mechanisms, viz., irregular carbohydrate diet, substandard housing and total neglect of health and education needs. Such a precarious living eroded the traditional family and kinship norms making certain categories of people particularly vulnerable. A perpetual dependence on neighbours and patrons, and alienation from the socio-political affairs of the community relegated them to a low social status. The poor, by and large, had low self-perception and aspiration, and were overwhelmingly religious and fatalistic in outlook; yet many did not resign to fate and endeavoured to take all possible measures to adust to multifarious depriving situations, thus negating the culture of poverty concept. The study outlines the policy implications at the end. An unequal social structure is identified as a basic malaise that thwarts any attempt at social development. Land and other asset redistribution is suggested as a first planned measure towards alleviation of mass poverty.

In recent years there has been considerable debate in India on the efficacy of IRDP in mitigating rural poverty. The government agencies like Planning Commission, Reserve Bank of India, National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development have been conducting several evaluative research studies, all over India, since the inception of the programme from the Sixth Five Year Plan. Those studies have presented a rosy picture of the success of IRDP. The line of judgement adopted by these studies were mere calculation of the proportion of households which have crossed poverty line by comparing pre-IRDP and post-IRDP income figures. This methodology, however, fails to make an adjustment for inflation, changes in family size, internal payment of loan, access to common property resources, availability of potable water, health and educational facilities which significantly influence the living condition of the poor. The studies made by different research organizations, individuals, institutions differ on different points. But the common considerations underlying all these studies is the failure to a large extent of this massive anti-poverty programme. The present study is a clear deviation from the earlier studies on two points. Firstly, a new methodology of Typological approach is adopted to assess the impact. Secondly, there is an attempt to restructure the present IRDP by way of an inter-industry model of the Leontief type. The findings will prove an essential reading not only to the academics but also to the planners, policy makers and government agencies.

Urban poverty is increasing alongside growing urban populations in sub-Saharan Africa. Women constitute a significant proportion of the urban poor, but their role is often neglected by development projects. This publication highlights the range of strategies that women have devised for themselves in order to cope with difficult economic circumstances in present-day Zambia. Natural resources figure prominently in urban women's activities, not only as a source of food and fuel, but as a source of income through trading activities. Ways in which women's livelihoods can be improved are also discussed.

Review of tribal economic development with special reference to Orissa and India in general.

Reviews causes of poverty in rural areas and presents a policy framework for reducing rural poverty, including through land reform, public works programs, access to credit, physical and social infrastructure, subsidies, and transfer of technology. Identifies key elements for drafting a policy to reduce rural poverty.

The fourth edition of the Historical Dictionary of Bangladesh greatly expands on the previous edition through a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and over 700 cross-referenced dictionary entries on important people, places, events, and institutions, as well as significant political, economic, social, and cultural aspects.

Despite 58 years experimentation with the policy of protective discrimination and planned development a large majority of the 80.2 million tribal people languish in abject poverty, landlessness, powerlessness, illiteracy and malnutrition. Being caught in the hangover of the strong patriarchic tradition the women of nearly 700 marginalized tribal communities find themselves highly exploited, subjugated and voiceless. The present book, first of its kind on tribes living in northern districts of West Bengal (popularly known as North Bengal), explores the areas of subjugation of tribal life and particularly that of the tribal women and analytically presents the case of tribal women in a tea garden locale in the Dooars region of Jalpaiguri district. The focus of the study has been education, i.e. how the tribes in general and tribal women in particular are doing in the field of education. The field of education is chosen because it is generally considered the most important force of empowerment, enlightenment and social transformation and because it provides us with a field to explore the areas of gender discrimination subsumed in tribal patriarchy. The book has approached the problem of tribal education and the gender question in education against the backdrop of the dialectics of dominant-subordinate relationship between the state and the dominant society on the one hand and the marginalized tribes on the other. The uniqueness of the book lies in its critical approach to the state-sponsored development strategies and its emphasis on a ‘cultural approach’ for a better understanding of the problem and for working out alternative development strategies for improving the educational status of the tribal communities. Sanjay K. Roy, Reader, Department of Sociology, North Bengal University, West Bengal, had his Ph. D. from Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University, and pursued post-Doctoral research at the University of Sussex (UK) and University of Wollongong (Australia). Dr Roy has edited a volume on Refugees and Human Rights (2001) and contributed a good number of research papers to the leading journals, volumes and to national and international seminars/workshops. His areas of interest include sociological theories, urban poor, refugee studies, political sociology and gender studies. Dr Roy has completed a number of research projects; the latest being Gender Profile of Tribes of North Bengal, which has been carried out for the Centre for Women’s Studies, North Bengal University.

Salient Features • A new edition to the Sociology of Migration in India. • An in-depth research on Marwari immigrants. • The circumstance, Psychology and Compulsions that force their migration. • Their strategies to come to terms with the culture in an alien land. • A case study of Rajasthani Marwari trader settleted in the West Orissa town of Sambalpur. • It casts ample light to hepl understand migration and its cross-cultural dynamics.

Deals with social work methods and principles, social welfare policies and programmes, rural social service, urbanization, urban social service, social science research, etc.

A joint FAO and World Bank study which shows how the farming systems approach can be used to identify priorities for the reduction of hunger and poverty in the main farming systems of the six major developing regions of the world.