This book probes into the beedi industry, a highly gendered and class-divided unorganised sector in India. It introduces an analysis of the lives, health status and work of the Indian women and girl children in the industry and discusses the role of gender constructions, global capitalism, and global racism in shaping the ideologies and conceptions about men and women at work. The volume presents a gendered postcolonial perspective on women's employment in the context of social and economic processes that are critical to globalization. It focuses on Telangana's Nizamabad district - where a majority of the women population are employed in the beedi industry. Through detailed surveys and case studies, the author analyses different aspects of exploitation of these women such as poor working conditions, income inequalities, health risks and the realities of child labour in the process of beedi making. Richly detailed, this book will be of great interest to students, researchers and teachers of geography, particularly human geography and feminist geography, women and gender studies, feminism, labour economics, capitalism, development studies, political sociology, and cultural studies. It will also be of interest to gender and feminist geographers, occupational health professionals, NGOs, and those interested in the issues of gender and development.

According to the final report of India's National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector, released in April 2009, workers in the unorganized (or informal) sector constitute more than 93 percent of the total workforce of India. Unorganized sector workers are those who do not have any job security, income security, or social security. The problems that confront women workers in the unorganized sector deserve special emphasis in view of their marginalized position. A considerable portion of their time is consumed by both socially productive labor and reproductive labor. This is what is called the double burden of work that distinguishes women from men. Gender division in labor has implications for the wages earned, permanency in the job, and the possibilities for upward mobility in the industry. The overall picture that emerges is one of greater disadvantage for women workers, in particular, those living in rural areas, as well as those in scheduled caste/scheduled tribes. This book examines the problems for women in the unorganized sector of India. The government's policies and programs that address these problems are discussed. The book also includes a case study of women in the embroidery industry of Surat City of the state of Gujarat.

According to India's 2011 Census, its rural population accounted for 68.8% of the total population. A large proportion of the rural population is - either wholly or significantly - dependent on agriculture and allied activities, such as horticulture, animal husbandry, and fisheries. Workers in the unorganized (or informal) sector constitute more than 93% of the total workforce of India. Unorganized sector workers are those who do not have any job security, income security, or social security, and are therefore extremely vulnerable to exogenous shocks. Women in India's rural areas are clearly the overwhelming proportion of the workforce in the informal rural economy and most of them suffer from various forms of insecurities and vulnerabilities. This book examines the conditions of rural women workers. It focuses on policies and programs of the Indian government to ameliorate their socio-economic existence.

Women living in rural regions today still often struggle to harness the full potential of mobile internet for their economic empowerment, despite a rapidly evolving digital landscape. This limitation hinders their ability to engage in online selling, job searching, and accessing public services, thereby constraining potential economic opportunities. The powerful research book, Empowering and Advancing Women Leaders and Entrepreneurs, presents a comprehensive analysis of the impact of mobile internet on gender-inclusive economic empowerment, offering innovative solutions to enhance rural entrepreneur’s digital skills and knowledge. The underrepresentation of women in leadership roles globally must be addressed to advance gender equity. This book examines the systemic barriers, including stereotypes and biases, that impede women's advancement in leadership positions. By proposing coordinated solutions involving corporations, governments, and civil society, such as allyship building and policy reforms, the book aims to reduce gender gaps in leadership and foster a more inclusive society. Through its insightful analysis and practical recommendations, this book is a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to promote gender equality and inclusive development, and underscores the necessity of their roles for this initiative.

Theology can become quite futile if it does not emerge from the day-to-day lives of the people. Theology, on its part, has to be answerable to the church and society and fulfill its noble mission of contributing towards the transformation of the present order of the church and society. This book ultimately has this aim. By identifying the ideological underpinnings that emerge from the perceptions of women, this book indicates possible future directions in the area of theology. The uniqueness of this book lies in its contextual focus and the day-to-day lived experiences of women with their bodies. It is the first of its kind in making a scientific study on the socio-cultural perceptions of women with regard to their bodies in the context of India. The special contribution of this book is in bringing to the fore the elements of agency which women exercise in their everyday lives in spite of their oppressive situations. The unconventional women of this book become possible role models for women who are voiceless, helpless, and victimized to grow in assertion and affirmation of their bodies and identities. This book will facilitate women to deconstruct the age-old oppressive perceptions and construct their identity as women in relation to their bodies and to take hold of their bodies amidst dehumanization. The book will also facilitate a critical look at the present understanding of body in Christian theology and provide future directions for the reformulation of the Theology of Body and Sexuality.