ABSTRACT

This handbook critically examines the three concepts of exclusion, inequality and stigma and their interrelationship in the Indian context. Divided into five parts, the volume deals with the issues of exclusion, inequality, gender discrimination, health and disability, and assault and violence. It discusses important topical themes such as caste and social exclusion in rural labour markets, impact of poverty and unemployment, discrimination in education and literacy, income inequality and financial inclusion, social security of street vendors, women social entrepreneurs, rural–urban digital divide, workplace inequality, women trafficking, acid attacks, inter-caste marriages, honour killings, health care and sanitation, discrimination faced by those with disabilities, and regional disparities in India.

The book traces rising socio-economic inequality and discrimination along with the severe lack of access to resources and opportunities, redressal instruments, legal provisions and implementation challenges, while also looking at deep-rooted causes responsible for their persistence in society. With emphasis on affirmative action, systemic mechanisms, and the role of state and citizens in bridging gaps, the volume presents several policies and strategies for development. It combines wide-ranging empirical case studies backed by relevant theoretical frameworks to map out a new agenda for research on socio-economic inequality in India with important implications for public policy.

Comprehensive and first of its kind, this handbook will serve as a key reference to scholars, researchers and teachers of exclusion and discrimination studies, social justice, political economy, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, development studies, education and public administration. It will also be useful to policymakers, bureaucrats, civil society activists, non-governmental organisations and social entrepreneurs in the development sector, in addition to those interested in third world studies, developing economies and the global south.

Preface. Introduction NMP Verma and Alpana Srivastava PART I Exclusion 1. Are Socially Disadvantaged Groups Catching Up with Others? An Analysis of Literacy Rates IC Awasthi and HK Varshney 2. Degree of Financial Inclusion: A Comparative Study among the Asian Countries Sudip Mukherjee, Anirban Sarkar and NMP Verma 3. Impact of Poverty and Exclusion: An Empirical Analysis Manish K Verma and Narendra Gupta 4. Discrimination and Exclusion in Education: Children of Manual Scavenger Communities Nida Khan 5. Caste Discrimination and Inequality: A Case of Artisans S Victor Babu and Isha Tamta 6. Caste and Social Exclusion in Rural Labour Markets Chandi Charan Mehentar PART II Inequality 7. Development and Rising Income Inequality in India: An Emerging Enigma Alpana Srivastava 8. Rural–Urban Divide: Digital Inequality Tanu Tiwari and Alpana Srivastava 9. Urban Livelihood and Social Security of the Street Vendors Daisy Bhattacharjee 10. Educational Inequality: A Case Study on School Enrolment and Infrastructure U Sa Jen Mog and Jahar Debbarma 11. Disparity and Disconnection in Investment and Unemployment among the Indian States Pawan Kumar Gupta and Asha Srivastava 12. Inter-Caste Marriages and Social Inequality Parul Srivastava 13. Millennial Women Social Entrepreneurs: A Growing Trend Rekha Panwar Khosla 14. Time Allocation in Television News Content Vikash Singh 15. Socioeconomic Inequality in Agricultural and Rural Sector Sarba N Mishra and Nirakar Pattnaik PART III Gender Discrimination 16. Perception towards Gender Equality: A Comparative Study of Young Men and Women Priya 17. A Study on Gender Discrimination among Migrant Construction Workers V Dhivya Keerthiga and Alka Singh 18. Inequality, Gender and Policy Initiatives Halima Sadia Rizvi and Mansi Vinaik 19. An Appraisal of Gender Issues in the Indian Corporate Sector Mahima Sharma 20. Gender Inequality in India: Legal Provisions Archana Chawla 21. Analysis of India’s Employment Scenario: Working Age Population and Female Participation Arvind Kumar Singh 22. Disabled Women: Facing Double Discriminations Priyam Sinha 23. Elected Women’s Representatives in Decentralized Governance: A Participation-Focussed Assessment Garima Mishra PART IV Health Hiatus 24. Health Assessment of Women Sunil Kumar Tripathi 25. Mathematical Issues among Children with Visual Impairment: Challenges and Strategies Puja 26. Impact of Bleaching Syndrome: The Inexorable Predicament of Dark-Skinned Women Sarveshwar Pande 27. Regional Disparity of Sanitation Facility in India Rashmi Tiwari 28. Beyond Human Development Index: A Conceptual Note Ravi Kant 29. Socioeconomic Inequalities and its Association with Health Status among Muslim Community Istikhar Ali PART V Violence and Trafficking 30. Acid Attack: Violence Related to Specific Gender Pooja Jaiswal and AK Bhartiya 31. Women Trafficking in India: A Threat to Gender Equality Madhuri Rathour and Satendra Kumar Sharma 32. Violence against Differently-Abled Persons in India Shruti Kirti Rastogi and Geetika Nidhi