An Alternative Development Agenda for India

Cover
Endorsement Page
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter 1: The ‘People First’ Imperative
	Identifying Vital Areas
	Understanding Poverty
	Understanding Government Policymaking
	Notes
Chapter 2: Universalizing Healthcare
	A Health System in Tatters
	A Well-functioning Health System
	Yawning Gaps in Public Healthcare
	Prioritizing Public Health
	Transforming Primary Health Facilities
	Women and Child Health
	Disease Prevention, Management, and Health Education
	Health Insurance and Private Sector Regulation
	Enhancing Health Budgets
	Notes
Chapter 3: Battling Malnutrition and Food Insecurity
	The Context
	High Malnutrition and Nutrition Imbalance
	Inextricable Linkage of Poverty and Malnutrition
	An Ineffective PDS
	Changing Policy Mindsets
	Focusing on Child and Mother
	Communication Is the Key
	Transforming the TPDS
	A Multi-pronged Approach
	Re-prioritizing Nutrition Budgets
	Notes
Chapter 4: Caring for the Young Child
	The Well-being of the Young Child Is Paramount
	Sluggish Progress in Children’s Well-being
	Neglect of Girls and Disadvantaged Children
	The Absence of Early Child Care and Education
	Absence of a Caring Environment
	Systemic Challenges to the ICDS
	The Need for Coordinated Cross-sectoral Action
	Improving Child Health
	Child Nutrition
	Reimagining the ICDS
	Making ECCE Meaningful and Effective
	Expanding Child Day Care Services
	Enhancing ECD Budgets
	Notes
Chapter 5: Ensuring Quality Schooling
	Issues Plaguing School Education
	Gaps in Enrolment
	Children Are Not Learning
	Unmotivated and Inadequately Trained Teachers
	Poor Performance of Government Schools
	Flourishing Private Schools and ‘English’ Education
	Modest Education Budgets
	Transformative Strategies
		The ‘Mantra’ For Improving Learning Outcomes
		Addressing the Demand Side
		Putting a Brake on New Government Schools
		Improving Teacher Motivation, Accountability, and Governance
		Fixing the Vexed Language Issue
		The Way Forward for Private Schools
		Enhancing and Re-prioritizing Education Budgets
	Notes
Chapter 6: Improving Livelihoods, Creating Jobs
	Overreliance on the Market
	Poverty and Unemployment
	Limited Opportunities in Agriculture
	Steep Decline in Traditional Livelihoods
	The Vital Importance of Migrant Labour
	The Vicious Circle of Poverty and Indebtedness
	Multiple Building Blocks Needed
		Supporting Impoverished Households
		Improving Conditions for Migrant Labour
		Widening Agricultural Insurance Coverage
		Enabling Women’s Work
		Aiding Tiny and Small Businesses
		Supporting Labour Intensive Enterprises in Urban Centres
		Job Creation by the Government
	Notes
Chapter 7: Unshackling Gendered Mindsets
	All-pervasive Gender Discrimination
	Female Work Participation and Well-being
	Gender Discrimination Is a Worldwide Malaise
	Role of Women’s Groups and Media
	Focused Public Policy Actions Are Imperative
		Imaginative and Massive Communication and Awareness Campaigns
		Education Is a Key Element in Women’s Well-being
		Establishing a Supportive Childcare System
		Improving Mobility and Safety in the Workplace
		Promoting Actions by Companies
		Asset and Cash Transfers Favouring Women
		Changing Perceptions About the LGBTQIA+ Community
		Gender Budgeting
	Notes
Chapter 8: Promoting Planned Urbanization
	Rising Urban Neglect
	Urban Planning: Divorced from Reality
	Near Absence of Housing for the Poor
	Lack of Sanitation Arrangements
	Pathetic Solid Waste Management
	Distorted Urban Mobility Arrangements
	Urban Planning: A Fresh Approach
	Housing for the Poor
	Sanitation: Prioritization Along the Value Chain
	Mindset Change in Solid Waste Management
	Buses Need Prioritization
	Metro Systems Distort Priorities
	Ensuring Rights of Pedestrians and Cyclists
	Manifold Budget Enhancements
	Notes
Chapter 9: The Way Forward: Principles, Actions, and Sustainability
	The Macro Framework
	Approach and Design Principles
	The Economic Environment
	The Vision and the Road Map
	Transforming Lives of Poor Households
	The Political Environment
	Fiscal Sustainability
	Notes
Select Bibliography
Index