South India Journal of Social Sciences (SIJSS) is a UGC-CARE listed, bimonthly journal published by the Academy of Social Sciences, an organization registered under the Society’s Act. The journal covers a wide range of areas within the social sciences, including sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, history, and more. Since its establishment in 2003 as a print journal (ISSN: 0972-8945), SIJSS has been committed to promoting high-quality research and scholarly discourse in the field of social sciences. In 2024, the journal was assigned an online ISSN (3048-6165), further strengthening its digital identity. Beginning April 2025, SIJSS transitioned to a bimonthly edition with a strong online presence, making its content more accessible to readers and authors worldwide. The journal uses the Open Journal System (OJS) to manage the complete researcher-to-reader workflow, including submission, peer review, and production.
Reimagining Development, Toward Sustainability and Inclusion
Section: Editor's Note Keywords: Sustainability, Inclusion, SGD, ESG The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) declared by the UNO have strengthened the need for academic reflection. Along with sustainability, the ideal of inclusion in a diversified society like India makes the objectives of development very focused. We have 17 research papers written on the above theme. As we navigate the complexities of 21 Century development, two imperatives have emerged as inseparable: environmental sustainability and social inclusion. This special edition covers diverse aspects examining how these twin goals manifest across India’s economic landscape. What strikes me most powerfully in reviewing these contributions is not merely the empirical evidence they provide, but the fundamental questions they raise about our development model itself. THE SUSTAINABILITY IMPERATIVE: RHETORIC VERSUS REALITY The ESG Paradox Much has been proclaimed about Environmental, Social, and Governance principles transforming corporate India. Yet the evidence presented here compels uncomfortable honesty: we remain trapped between aspiration and achievement. Whether examining petroleum giants pursuing net-zero commitments, banks claiming sustainable finance credentials, or agricultural enterprises adopting green practices, a consistent pattern emerges, ESG integration remains superficial, driven more by regulatory compliance and international market pressures than genuine transformation. What particularly concerns me is the disconnect between ESG scores and actual outcomes. When major corporations achieve only moderate sustainability ratings that correlate minimally with financial performance, we must ask whether we are measuring what matters or merely what is convenient to measure. The banking sector analysis reveals an even more troubling reality: sustainability efforts sometimes inversely correlate with market valuation, suggesting that investors remain unconvinced or that implementation costs outweigh perceived benefits. This is not sustainability, it is performative compliance. The agricultural research offers a more nuanced perspective. Farm size determines who can afford sustainability, creating a two-tiered system where large producers comply while small farmers struggle. This observation crystallizes a broader truth: without deliberate inclusion strategies, sustainability mandates risk becoming another mechanism of marginalization, rewarding those already privileged while penalizing those operating at subsistence margins. Climate Change: No Longer a Future Threat The climate research presented here moves beyond apocalyptic projections to document present-day impacts. Agricultural productivity already responds measurably to climate variability, with nearly half of rice yield fluctuations attributable to temperature and rainfall patterns. For a nation where agriculture sustains hundreds of millions, this is not an environmental issue it is an existential livelihood crisis unfolding in slow motion. What demands our attention is not whether climate change will affect India, but how unequally distribute its impacts. The political economy analysis of water scarcity forces us to confront an uncomfortable reality: environmental crises are not natural disasters but socially constructed outcomes reflecting power asymmetries. When 163 million Indians lack clean drinking water in a country with abundant water resources, the crisis stems not from absolute scarcity but from governance failures, privatization dynamics, and systematic exclusion of marginalized communities from decision-making processes. Alternative Pathways: Permaculture and Systemic Redesign The permaculture contribution offers conceptual relief an articulation of agriculture as ecosystem design rather than extractive industry. What appeals to me about this framework is its refusal to accept industrial agriculture’s assumptions. Rather than optimizing existing systems, permaculture proposes fundamentally different relationships between humans and natural systems, emphasizing regeneration over extraction, diversity over monoculture, and long-term resilience over short-term yield maximization. However, as an editor, I must note the challenge: such alternative frameworks remain marginal in policy discourse and investment priorities. Mainstreaming permaculture requires not just governmental recognition but transformation of agricultural extension systems, credit mechanisms, and market structures currently designed for industrial agriculture. The gap between conceptual elegance and implementation reality remains vast. INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT: BEYOND WELFARISM Employment Guarantees: Promise and Fragility The MGNREGA analysis offers both hope and caution. When effectively implemented, employment guarantees demonstrably reach marginalized communities, with women and tribal populations securing dignified work at critical moments. This is inclusion in its most tangible form guaranteed livelihood access regardless of caste, gender, or market position. Yet what troubles me deeply is the program’s vulnerability to administrative disruption. Participation collapses following bureaucratic reorganizations; completion rates plummet when political will wanes. This fragility exposes the limitation of welfare-based inclusion: benefits remain contingent on state capacity and political commitment rather than being structurally embedded in economic systems. Marginalized communities cycle between temporary relief and renewed vulnerability, never achieving the economic security that would constitute genuine inclusion. Livelihood Diversification: Adaptation or Dispossession? The tribal livelihood research reveals communities adapting to constrained circumstances diversifying income sources as traditional practices become untenable under conservation policies and climate pressures. Development discourse often celebrates such diversification as resilience. Yet we must ask are we witnessing adaptive innovation or gradual dispossession? When forest-dependent communities abandon traditional practices due to policy restrictions rather than choice, calling this “livelihood diversification” obscures coercion beneath neutral terminology. Education emerges as the critical variable enabling successful diversification. This finding underscores that inclusion requires capability investments schools, skills training, information access not merely income transfers. However, it also reveals how decades of educational neglect have constrained current adaptive capacity, leaving communities vulnerable precisely when adaptation becomes most critical. The Financial Exclusion Trap Multiple contributions examine financial systems banking access, credit availability, digital payment adoption. What becomes evident is that financial inclusion initiatives have expanded access without necessarily building capability. Women possess bank accounts but lack financial literacy to leverage them effectively; rural populations own smartphones but cannot access digital banking due to connectivity, interface complexity, and trust deficits. The comparison between urban and rural women’s financial capability reveals disparities that cannot be addressed through account-opening campaigns alone. Meaningful financial inclusion requires infrastructure investment, culturally appropriate education, vernacular interfaces, and perhaps most fundamentally, transformation of attitudes viewing financial services as urban, educated domains rather than universal entitlements. Workers in traditional industries coir, cashew processing exemplify the limits of current inclusion approaches. Predominantly women from marginalized backgrounds, they access employment but remain trapped in informal arrangements without contracts, social security, or occupational safety protections. Three-quarters carry debt burdens; over half suffer chronic health conditions directly attributable to working conditions. This is not inclusion it is exploitation with a paycheck. Labor Markets: Informality as Structural Violence Perhaps the most damning evidence concerns employment contracts or their absence. When nearly 70% of regular wage workers lack written contracts, vulnerability becomes normalized rather than exceptional. The research documenting wage differentials demonstrates that contract status determines not just income but access to social security, job stability, and basic dignity. Only 2-3% of India’s workforce enjoys genuinely secure employment. This is not a market failure requiring marginal adjustments but a structural feature of India’s economic model. Informality serves capital accumulation by externalizing social reproduction costs onto workers and their communities. Addressing this requires not skill development programs or entrepreneurship training though both have value but fundamental labor market reforms establishing universal contracts, minimum wage enforcement, and social security as rights rather than privileges. SYNTHESIS: TOWARD INTEGRATED TRANSFORMATION Reviewing these contributions, I am struck by the interconnectedness repeatedly emerging. Sustainability mandates that exclude small farmers or informal workers inevitably fail; inclusion initiatives ignoring environmental degradation undermine their own foundations. Marginalized communities bear disproportionate environmental burdens while possessing least adaptive capacity. Water privatization creates scarcity for the poor while enabling corporate profit. Climate change devastates rain-dependent agriculture even as conservation policies restrict traditional adaptive practices. What emerges is not a call for better policy coordination but recognition that our dominant development model generates these contradictions systematically. We pursue GDP growth that degrades ecosystems, industrialization that informalizes labor, urbanization that displaces rural livelihoods, and liberalization that concentrates wealth. Sustainability and inclusion initiatives operate as correctives to a fundamentally extractive, unequal system rather than transforming its underlying logic. The research assembled here provides rigorous evidence of these dynamics. It also, collectively, points toward alternatives: participatory governance over technocratic management, justice frameworks over efficiency calculations, capability building over welfarism, systemic redesign over incremental adjustment. Whether examining permaculture, employment guarantees, or water justice movements, the most compelling contributions envision development not as maximizing output but as enabling dignified, sustainable livelihoods within ecological limits. As Guest Editor, I offer this collection not as definitive answers but as evidence demanding uncomfortable questions. Can ESG frameworks drive transformation or merely legitimize existing power structures? Do inclusion programs empower marginalized communities or manage their exclusion more efficiently? Can we achieve sustainability without confronting inequality, or inclusion without challenging unsustainable accumulation? These articles suggest that meaningful progress requires moving beyond technical solutions toward fundamental transformations in resource distribution, decision-making authority, and institutional arrangements. The path forward demands not just better policies but different politics guided by principles of equity, participation, and ecological integrity that place human dignity and environmental health before abstract growth metrics.
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User Fees in Public Healthcare: A Willingness-to-Pay Study in Kerala, India
Section: Articles Categories: Economics, Political Economy, Commerce & Management Keywords: Cost of treatment, Financing, Healthcare, User fees, Willingness-to-pay Subjects: Health Economics This study examines the willingness to pay (WTP) for tertiary public healthcare services in Kerala, a state with a high prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and significant out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures. Data were collected from in-patients at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, using structured interviews to assess the socio-economic determinants influencing WTP. The findings reveal that socio-economic variables such as age, caste, education, employment status, and economic background significantly impact WTP. Urban patients, those with higher education levels, and regular income earners were willing to pay more for improved healthcare services, while patients from economically weaker backgrounds expressed lower WTP. The study also highlights the inadequacies in the current public healthcare system, such as insufficient laboratory facilities, leading to increased reliance on costly private institutions. The results underscore the potential of WTP-based user fees to enhance service quality and financial sustainability while addressing urban-rural disparities and economic inequities. However, careful policy design, including subsidies and exemptions for low-income groups, is essential to ensure affordability and accessibility. The study provides insights into sustainable healthcare financing models tailored to the socio-economic realities of Kerala.
Economics, Political Economy, Commerce & Management
Water Crisis by Design: Unpacking India’s Political Economy of Water Crisis Through the Marxist Framework of Environmental Justice
Section: Articles Categories: Economics, Political Economy, Commerce & Management Keywords: Unpacking, Political Economy , Marxist Framework , Environmental Justice India represents around 18 % of the world's population as one of the most populated countries, leaving behind China, and only 4 % of global fresh water resources for drinking water. According to the World Bank's estimates, around 163 million people face clean and fresh water availability for drinking purposes. In terms of the impact of polluted and unclean water, nearly 21 per cent of communicable diseases in India are linked to unsafe water, and around 500 children die every day due to diarrhoea. Thus, the water crisis in India is severe, and India's population is facing the worst crisis of water for drinking purposes as well as other purposes related to life and health. Despite the Constitution of India being an egalitarian document that guarantees certain fundamental rights in Parts III and IV without these guarantees and their inalienability, the scarcity of availability of fresh water or clean water has become so acute in India that billions of people, especially the underprivileged and peripheral, are deprived of their basic need for water. Without fulfilling this basic need of water, the meaning of life is meaningless, and the concept of right to life, envisaged under Article 21 of the Constitution and recognised by the judicial pronouncements, is of no practical use. This paper will deal with the fundamental question of whether the water crisis in India is by design or just incidental. In this regard, policies and laws will be briefly analysed and why the judiciary interpreted Article 21 of the Constitution to recognise the right to clean water as an integral part of the right to life in its broader sense of term and meaning. The Marxist framework of environmental justice will be adopted to unpack the political economy of the water crisis in India. The central focus of the analysis of the political economy of the water crisis will be the policies, laws, and programmes that are, by design, responsible for the water crisis, resulting in environmental injustice.
The Impact of Rainfall Variability on Occupational Diversification of Farm Households In Rural Assam
Section: Articles Categories: Economics, Political Economy, Commerce & Management, Geography, Environmental Studies, Sustainable Development & Area Studies Keywords: Rainfall variability, rural non-farm employm, intensity of occupational diversification , rural Assam Subjects: Climate change , Occupational diversification Occupational diversification from farm to the rural non-farm sector (RNFS) has become a major livelihood option in rural India. Among the various factors affecting diversification, the impact of changing climatic condition has become a prime cause of concern. Although its impact is felt everywhere, yet the state of Assam being not only prone to frequent floods and soil erosion, is also heavily dependent on rainfall for irrigation. Therefore, any change in climatic condition is likely to affect farm output and income immensely. Further, growth of the RNFS is also highest in Assam compared to other North-Eastern states which points towards a plausible link between climate change and occupational diversification. The present paper is an attempt to empirically analyse this relation between rainfall variability and farm household’s diversification strategy where not only the decision of diversification but also its intensity is studied. To fulfill the objective, a Double Hurdle model is applied where we found that farm households adopt a diversified livelihood as a response to mitigate risks associated with rainfall variability. They also increase their participation in non-farm employment where more working members shift to this sector as risk reduction strategy. Even in the presence of irrigation intensity, farm households’ likelihood to engage in non-farm activities is still positive. Therefore, policies should focus on infrastructural development that is likely to facilitate easy access to farm inputs and also accelerate growth of the RNFS as well.
Geography, Environmental Studies, Sustainable Development & Area Studies
intensity of occupational diversification
Empowerment through Policy Framework: An Analysis of the Draft National Policy for Persons with Disabilities
Section: Articles Categories: Anthropology, Sociology, Social Work, History & Archeology, Political Science, Public Policy, Law & International Relations Keywords: Disability, Empowerment, Inclusion, National Policy, Policy for Persons with Disabilities Subjects: Disability, Empowerment, Inclusion, National policy The National Sample Survey report (2018) in India describes that the prevalence of disability is 2.2 %, which is similar to the figures from the 2011 census i.e. In India of the 2011 census, there were 2.68 crores of persons living with disabilities. In 2006, the Indian Government framed a national policy for differently-abled persons covering the prevention and rehabilitation of disabilities. It also focuses on the rehabilitation of women and children with disabilities, facilitating a barrier-free environment, improving social security, initiating research, and formulating guidelines, among others. Later after 15 years, in 2021, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment released a draft National Policy for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan). The scenario in 2021 has faced many changes compared to that of 2006. One important legislative development was the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act in 2016, followed by the adoption of the National Education Policy in 2020. In better alignment with global initiatives, India ratified UNCRPD and acceded to various international resolutions directly or indirectly related to PwDs. The paper illustrates India's National policy for persons with disabilities. Generally, governments' policies are a means and mechanism for addressing the needs of citizens. Even in terms of disability, this existing policy and the new draft is a vehicle of sought-after change, which is the empowerment and inclusion of PwDs. Hence, the policy should consider the needs of the recipients and that it can meet those needs. The purpose of the current paper is to analyse the current policy as well as the recent draft policy, its strengths and weaknesses, and to identify areas that need attention.
Anthropology, Sociology, Social Work, History & Archeology
Political Science, Public Policy, Law & International Relations
Impact of Education and Occupational Background on Livelihood Diversification of Tribal People in Hill Tripura
Section: Articles Categories: Economics, Political Economy, Commerce & Management Keywords: Livelihood, Land, Education, Work Participation Rate, Rural Tripura The present research focusses the livelihood diversification and its possible determinants of the tribal people in rural Tripura. Tripura is characterized as diverse features of cultural and socio-economic structure. These distinct features of the state stimulated the multiple sources of income earning of rural people in Tripura. Again, the diverse topography of the state encouraged to multiple choice of earnings strategy. The tribal population predominantly lived in hill Tripura and practices traditional method of production to generate income. However, several factors influenced to generate income of these people in the present era of development. Consequently, the present research investigated the factors of livelihood diversification of rural people in Tripura. We assumed level of education, households' land holding and number of workers per household are the key determinants of livelihood diversification or multiple choice of earning. We surveyed three adjacent villages in hill Tripura and applied a multiple linear regression technique for this purpose. We obtained significant results.
Socio Economic Conditions of Coir Workers in Tamilnadu – A Study with Special Reference To Paramathi Velur Taluk of Namakkal District
Section: Articles Keywords: Coir, Brown Fibre, Socio Economic Conditions, Cottages, Coir Industries, Coir Yarn ABSTRACT: In India coir is produced from coconut trees, known as cocosnucifera and sometimes as cocos fibre. Water and salt water can damage the natural fiber due to the high water content of coir fibers. The history of coir in the world indicates that the introduction of coir in the England. From the moment Indian coir produced in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa and Orissa took over European and global markets, the power and dominance of Indian coir was in a success position and it held without retreating. Large corporate firms soon set up coir factories in other areas such as Pollachi, Kanniyakumari, Thanjavur, Salem and Namakkal coir industry was established as the most important hereditary cottage industry and one of the traditional industries in southwest coastal areas such as Kerala, Alleppey, Kanniyakumari. Thanjavur, Pollachi occupy a most important place in Tamilnadu India. The agro-based coir Industry is mainly export oriented and rural based. This traditional industry is notable for its economic importance in terms of income such as foreign exchange and employment. Tamilnadu employment 2.10 lakhs this traditional industry provides employment opportunities in the manufacture of cottage handicrafts and benefits 3 lakhs people. The coir industry in Tamilnadu is the third largest sector as the only sign of non-agricultural employment for the rural poor. Pollachi, Thanjavur and Namakkal are the nerve centers of Tamilnadu for coir production. This paper is a survey of life, socioeconomic status and profile of coir workers in Paramathi Velur taluk, Namakkal District, Tamilnadu.
Examining The Dynamics of Personality Traits And Religiosity in Shaping Investment Biases: A Gendered Perspective
Section: Articles Categories: Economics, Political Economy, Commerce & Management, Education, Health, Psychology, Philosophy, Social Exclusion & Gender Studies Keywords: Religiosity, Personality traits, Investment biases, Gender, Mental accounting, Loss aversion Investment choice is frequently disguised by psychological bias, and investors are frequently led off track from rational decision making. This research examines the impact of religiosity and the Big Five personality traits on two primary investment biases, loss aversion and mental accounting, moderated by gender. With a sample size of 321 individual investors in Goa, India, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) identifies that Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Neuroticism all increase both biases significantly, while Openness to Experience influences mental accounting only. Religiosity also increases both biases. Notably, gender moderates these relationships, particularly the effects of Neuroticism and Religiosity on both biases. Additionally, gender influences the relationship between Agreeableness and mental accounting , as well as the associations of Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Openness with loss aversion. These results emphasize the essential role of gender in determining how personality and religiosity lead to financial biases, highlighting the necessity for gender-inclusive financial education and advisory approaches. By incorporating psychological and cultural aspects into investment behaviour research, this research provides useful contributions for financial planners, policymakers, and retail investors seeking more tailored and efficient decision-making models.
Education, Health, Psychology, Philosophy, Social Exclusion & Gender Studies
The Wage Divide: Analyzing Wage Disparities between Contract and Permanent Workers
Section: Articles Categories: Economics, Political Economy, Commerce & Management Keywords: formal and informal workers, job contracts, ASI, wage differential Subjects: economics This study investigates wage differentials between formal and informal sectors in India's labour market, specifically focusing on the role of job contracts. Wage disparities, a critical issue in labour economics, have significant implications for socioeconomic inequality. While previous research has examined wage discrimination based on caste, gender, and productivity, limited attention has been given to the impact of employment contracts on wage inequality. Using unit-level data from the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) and the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), this study applies a dual labour market framework to explore how contract type and duration influence wage-setting mechanisms in formal and informal employment. The study reveals that permanent workers earn a consistently larger share of total wages than contractual workers, even as the total wages and workforce in both categories have grown. The findings underscore the role of contract terms in shaping wage disparities, with shorter-duration contracts linked to lower wages. This study contributes to policy discussions by offering insights into how job contracts exacerbate wage inequality and identifying targeted interventions to address these gaps. The results emphasise the need for regulatory reforms that reduce wage disparities, enhance equity in wage-setting processes, and improve labour market outcomes in India's segmented economy.
Assessing Digital Financial Service Awareness, Usage and Impact on Tribal socio-economic Condition
Section: Articles Categories: Economics, Political Economy, Commerce & Management Keywords: Digital Financial Services, Tribes, Socio – Economic Development Digital financial services (DFS) as services that are delivered and made available to customers through digital technology. Tribal communities in the digital age are embracing the transformative potential of digital financial inclusion in addition to maintaining their traditional practices. They are creating new avenues for economic development while preserving their cultural legacy through creative technology and inclusive approaches. The main purpose of the study are, to assess the level of awareness of the scheduled tribes about digital financial services and to identify the factors influencing scheduled tribes to use digital financial services towards the socio-economic transformation. Purposive sample strategy has been used to gather data. A well-organized interview schedule has been gathered from the Coimbatore district's indigenous respondents. Four hundred tribe respondents make up the study's sample size. The gathered data has been analyzed using frequency, percentages, mean, and PLS software. The findings revealed that, the highest awareness is associated with ATMs, which received a mean score of 4.95, indicating that most respondents are extremely aware of this service. SEM result revealed, several relationships are statistically significant and demonstrate strong positive effects. Notably, Attitude towards Use significantly influences Behavioral Intention to Use, and Actual Use has a strong impact on Socio-economic Transformation, suggesting that usage directly contributes to socio-economic changes. DFS has aided in the socioeconomic change of tribal tribes by facilitating banking access. But the socioeconomic transition is clear since tribes now have better access to government subsidies, loans, and savings, raising their standard of living.
A Quantitative Evaluation of Severity of Disease Index due to Consumption of Arsenic contaminated Groundwater in Assam, India
Section: Articles Categories: Economics, Political Economy, Commerce & Management Keywords: Groundwater-arsenic-pollution , Severity-incidence-index, Health-stcok index The study endeavour sought to undertake an economic evaluation of groundwater contamination by arsenic in the districts of Jorhat and Nalbari, situated in the state of Assam. The research encompassed a total of twelve remote villages spanning across two districts of Assam viz. Jorhat and Nalbari. A comprehensive sampling strategy was employed to select a total of 175 households from the Titabor block in the esteemed Jorhat district, and an additional 180 households from the Paschim Nalbari block in the illustrious Nalbari district. These particular blocks were chosen due to their notable prevalence of elevated arsenic concentrations, which in turn resulted in a significant impact on the local population within the respective districts. The comprehensive assessment of the socio-economic landscape encompassed various factors, including educational achievement, household size, occupational categorization, and monthly expenditure patterns. The assessment of the household's overall economic status was based on the economic wellbeing as a fundamental indicator. The Severity Incidence Index (SII) quantifies the gravity of the occurrence resulting from the ingestion of potentially arsenic-contaminated water. It has been observed that there exists a positive correlation between the concentration of arsenic in water and the corresponding SII values. This elucidates the direct correlation between the escalating levels of arsenic in water and the escalating magnitude of individuals susceptible to potential ailments associated with arsenic contamination. The present index exhibits a diminished numerical representation for the region afflicted by a relatively modest concentration of arsenic.
Determinants and Barriers of Crop Diversification: A Case Study of Water User Associations Group in Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal
Section: Articles Categories: Economics, Political Economy, Commerce & Management, Geography, Environmental Studies, Sustainable Development & Area Studies Keywords: crop diversification, vulnerable regions, climate resilience, multinomial logistic regression, irrigation Subjects: Agricultural economics, Rural livelihood This study examines the determinants, and barriers to crop diversification among marginal farmers in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, associated with Water User Associations (WUA). Conducted in 2024 in Kranti block, the research assesses how irrigation expansion influences diversification, a key strategy for food security and climate resilience. A multinomial logistic regression using household level data (N= 120) was estimated to identify drivers of crop diversification. The result of the study revealed that livestock-rearing households diversify less, and instead rely on livestock for income. The barriers to household crop diversification include limited credit access and inefficient public irrigation systems. The findings emphasize the urgency of improving irrigation systems, introducing targeted credit schemes, and adopting subsidy policies that incentivize diversification. Such measures could significantly enhance climate resilience and livelihoods for marginal farmers. This study provides policy insights to promote sustainable crop diversification in vulnerable regions.
Assessment of Landslide Susceptibility in the Himalayan Region: A Case Study of Rishikesh-Yamunotri Corridor
Section: Articles Categories: Geography, Environmental Studies, Sustainable Development & Area Studies Keywords: Landslide, susceptibility, AHP model, inventory, regional planning The findings of the statistical models based on geographic information systems (GIS) for creating landslip susceptibility maps utilising remote sensing data and geographic information systems for the Rishikesh to Yamunotri corridor of Uttarakhand are presented in this study. Cartosat, Landsat, IMD, and India water resources data were used to extract ten factors: slope, aspect, soil, lithology, NDVI, LULC, distance to stream, precipitation, distance to road, and elevation. Using GIS-based statistical models, such as the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), which assigns ranks and weights to various factors to determine which factors are more responsible for landslides, the relationships between the detected landslide locations and these ten related factors were identified. The three landslide zone categories, high, medium, and low, on the landslip inventory map were developed using various things like field surveys and digital aerial photos. Regional planning and hazard mitigation would benefit from these landslip susceptibility maps.
Occupational Stress among the Women Police Officers in Southern India
Section: Articles Categories: Economics, Political Economy, Commerce & Management Keywords: Women Police Officers, Occupational Stress, , Organisational Stress, Operational Stress Subjects: Commerce & Management This study examines occupational stress among women police officers in Southern India, focusing on operational and organisational stress factors. Law enforcement is a highly stressful profession, and female officers, who often juggle societal and professional roles, are particularly susceptible to elevated stress levels. A cross-sectional survey involving 50 female police officers was conducted using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire to assess perceived stress levels and its sources. The study reveals that 90% of participants reported high operational stress, while 80% experienced high organisational stress. The most significant stressors identified were staff shortages, bureaucratic red tape, excessive administrative duties, and difficulty maintaining physical health. The findings highlight the urgent need for addressing occupational stress as a public health issue, as it impacts both the well-being of officers and their professional efficiency. The study suggests implementing stress management programs, periodic health check-ups, and providing special considerations for female officers. These measures could significantly enhance officer health and contribute to a more efficient and sustainable police force.
Financial Literacy as A Catalyst for Digital Banking Adoption: Evidence From Rural And Urban Women
Section: Articles Categories: Economics, Political Economy, Commerce & Management Keywords: Digital Banking, Women Empowerment, Financial Literacy This study evaluates how smart women are with their money as well as their knowledge, skills and experience with online banking. The paper analyses a study undertaken to understand the financial behaviour of the prospect. The study adopted the quantitative design method. For the current study, the primary data were collected from 300 respondents (150 rural and 150 urban women) using structured questionnaires. According to the findings, urban women had much higher financial literacy and digital financial transactions usage than women from rural areas. These are mainly due to better education, greater access to financial data, and better availability of smartphones and internet in cities. On the other hand, rural women face chronic longstanding issues like inaccessibility to adequate infrastructure, low-level of digital literacy, cultural restrictions and a lack of faith in the system. Further, three hypotheses were tested in the study using the statistical techniques. The tests' results showed that there are some large gaps and distance in the uptake of digital banking in rural as well as urban places. The resulting message is clear - overcoming gender and regional disparities in financial literacy and digital adoption will require purposeful policy, targeted training, better infrastructure, and gender-sensitive financial products.
Changing Nature of Electoral Democracy in Delhi: A Lok Sabha Perspective
Section: Articles Categories: Political Science, Public Policy, Law & International Relations Keywords: Election, Manifestoes, Political Parties, Policies, Promises Elections are the vital political expression and the main source of power for the voters in a democratic setting. Elections act as a link among the voters, electoral politics and political parties. The very basis of democracies are the people because the real sovereignty lies in the hands of the people. Political parties in democracies work as an important channel of communication through representation, integration and transformation. They serve as democratic wheels that allows people to have a meaningful say in the power. In democracies, parties constitute the link between people on the one hand and government on the other. Hence, Political parties and democracy are closely intertwined with each other, and through elections nature of electoral politics becomes more evident and observable. In this context, this study investigates the changing nature of electoral democracy in Delhi. The objectives of study are to examine and analyze the Lok Sabha verdicts of Delhi. The study will explore the relationship among the voters, political parties and electoral democracy. This research highlights and examines the issues, promises and manifestos brought in by the political parties for the voters. The study underscores an especial analysis of 2014, 2019 and 2024 Delhi Lok Sabha electoral verdicts in detail.
Sufism In South Asia: Past, Present And Future
Section: Articles Categories: Anthropology, Sociology, Social Work, History & Archeology Keywords: Duggar, Folk Culture, Communal Harmony, Folk Songs and Sufism General understanding of Islam as a religion does not consist of many diversities and identities as in the other major religions viz. Christianity and Hinduism. In both of the later, it is believed to be having diversities and denominations, such as in Christianity. Hinduism also has many. In this article, we highlight the fact that Islam has also multiple identities which are region wise, content wise and in ritual and practices wise. To mention briefly, you have one sect following, aggressive K and non-human and extremist methodology, which is terrorism, on the other hand, there is a sect called Sufism, whose principles are non-violence, commitment to art, music, gender sensitivities and sympathy and empathy for the welfare of the poor and deprived.
UN Sustainable Development Goals Research: Insights from Bibliometric Analysis of Top NIRF-ranked Universities
Section: Articles Categories: Language Studies, Cultural Studies, Media and Communication & Library Science Keywords: Sustainable development goals, NIRF Universities, Bibliometric Analysis, Research Evaluation, Institutional Productivity United Nations Sustainable development goals (SDGs) aim to achieve socially equitable, financially successful and nature friendly world. Being the hub of knowledge creation and dissemination, academic institutes play a crucial role in promoting SDGs through research. Hence the present study analysed the productivity and impact of UN SDG research output of top ten NIRF-ranked universities. Bibliometric data of 51455 SDG publications produced by the top ten NIRF ranked universities for the period 2016-2024 was exported using the pre-defined SDG queries from the Scopus database. The study revealed a steady growth of institutional contribution on SDG research indicating the researcher’s meticulous involvement in implementing SDG. Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) produced highest number of SDG publications (8559) while Banaras Hindu University (BHU) accrued highest citations (200240). The non open access publications (32787) outnumbered their open access counterparts (18668) on the contrary, citation analysis highlighted that open access SDG publications received higher citations than non-open access publications, emphasizing the role of OA publishing in enhancing research visibility and impact. All the ten universities preferred articles as the major channel for disseminating their scholarly outputs. We recommend universities should encourage researchers to contribute more SDG publications through open access channels to achieve the goals within the stipulated time.
Language Studies, Cultural Studies, Media and Communication & Library Science
The Power of Perceived Organisational Support in Shaping Organisational Commitment: The Mediating Roles of Self-Efficacy and Job Satisfaction
Section: Articles Categories: Economics, Political Economy, Commerce & Management Keywords: Perceived Organizational Support, Self-efficacy, Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment Developing a culture of positivity and trust is fundamental in overcoming obstacles at work. A positive and credible work environment is primarily dependent on organizational support. Organizational support creates a work atmosphere where employees can flourish and have a part in the company's success. Given this, this study investigates the impact of perceived organizational support (POST) on organizational commitment (ORC) in the telecom industry in Chennai. A sample size of 470 employees was surveyed to understand the relationship between these variables. Stratified random sampling was implemented to single out the respondents. Top two companies in the telecom industry were focused for the study. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the data, examining the mediating roles of self-efficacy and job satisfaction in the relationship between POST and ORC. The study explores how POST influences employee outcomes such as job satisfaction and organizational commitment, highlighting the importance of organizational support in fostering a committed and productive workforce. The findings provide valuable insights into how perceived organizational support can indirectly enhance organizational commitment through its effects on self-efficacy and job satisfaction. This research offers both theoretical and practical implications for organizations in the telecom sector. It emphasizes the need for organizations to invest in creating supportive work environments to improve self efficacy, job satisfaction and organizational commitment. The results of the study are relevant for practitioners aiming to improve organizational culture and enhance employee outcomes, particularly in service-driven industries like telecom.
Contested Belonging: Citizenship, Migration, and Identity Politics in Assam
Section: Articles Categories: Political Science, Public Policy, Law & International Relations Keywords: Citizenship, Assam, Indigenous Rights,, National Register of Citizens (NRC), Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Migration The debate over citizenship in India has been sharply highlighted by the Assam context, particularly through the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Assam’s citizenship question is rooted in its unique historical and socio-political landscape, with key milestones including the Assam Accord of 1985, which set a distinct cut-off date for citizenship (March 25, 1971) and introduced Section 6A of the Citizenship Act in 1986. This exceptional framework for Assam contrasts with the rest of India, creating tensions over inclusion and exclusion. The NRC update and CAA passage between 2015 and 2019 intensified the debate, particularly concerning undocumented migrants, indigenous rights, and communal divides. While globalisation and neoliberalism have transformed traditional notions of citizenship, emphasizing individualism and market-driven rights, Assam’s context underscores the conflict between universal human rights and region-specific indigenous claims. The dichotomy of inclusion and exclusion raises fundamental questions about nation-building and sub-nationalism. Legal frameworks like Section 6A attempt to balance these tensions but face criticism for creating graded citizenship. Indigenous communities often perceive universal human rights frameworks as threats to their land and cultural identity, while global migration challenges fixed definitions of citizenship. This paper explores the evolving concept of citizenship, focusing on Assam’s historical, political, and legal particularities. It examines how regional identity, migration, and neoliberalism intersect, offering insights into broader implications for citizenship policies in India. Ultimately, it underscores the complex balance between inclusive citizenship and regional specificity.
GST And Constitutional Federalism in India: A Critical Analysis of Article 246a's Impact on Centre-State Fiscal Relations
Section: Articles Categories: Economics, Political Economy, Commerce & Management, Political Science, Public Policy, Law & International Relations Keywords: Goods and Services Tax, Fiscal Federalism, Article 246A, Constitution, Centre State Relation This study explores the impact of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on fiscal federalism in Kerala, focusing on its implications for revenue generation, tax collection, and inter-state trade dynamics. It analyzes the dual GST model, which enables both the Union and States to impose taxes concurrently, but highlights the challenges posed by inconsistencies in tax rates across states. By examining the cost disparity between intra-state and inter-state transactions, the study identifies potential barriers to inter-state trade, as businesses may favor intra-state transactions to avoid higher integrated GST (IGST) rates. The research also delves into the legal framework of GST, questioning the sufficiency of Article 246A in addressing issues of repugnancy between central and state laws. The study calls for a more harmonized GST system to foster economic integration, reduce tax arbitrage, and clarify legislative authority in resolving conflicts between central and state GST laws. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, suggesting the need for further reforms to enhance the efficiency and equity of the GST system. Future research can expand these analyses to other states, contributing to the broader discourse on fiscal federalism in India.Top of FormBottom of Form
In-Charge Financial Distress/Financial Well-Being Scale: Score interpretation and reliability in the context of informal construction workers in West Bengal
Section: Articles Categories: Economics, Political Economy, Commerce & Management Keywords: Financial Well-Being, Distress, Informal Construction Workers, Scale Informal construction labourers in India significantly contribute to the industry’s Gross Value Addition (GVA). For instance, in India the unorganized segment was 75.9 per cent of the industry’s total GVA in 2020-21(NSO report). Despite this fact, informal construction labourers suffer from a high degree of economic distress amid rising inflation and uncertainty in income. This has intensified hardships as well as created immense financial distress among such labourers. For measuring their financial well-being/distress, Prawitz et al. (2006) developed In-Charge Financial Distress/Financial Well-Being (IFDFW) scale consisting of eight self-reported items, each of which assigns scores ranging from 0 (overwhelming stress) to 10 (low stress). Using this IFDFW scale the paper evaluates financial distress among different groups of construction workers in the few selected blocks in North and South Bengal. The overall average score of informal construction labourers is found to be 2.06 signifying a very high level of distress among them. This degree of distress is found to be different for different groups of informal labourers in the industry, i.e., self-employed labourers (highest in the class with a mean value of 1.89), from wage employed category, non-migrants and migrants, having the mean value of 2.09 and 2.22 respectively. Moreover, the scale demonstrated strong validity and reliability, with Cronbach’s alpha at 0.811, and, thus, the overall result concerning distress position of labourers could guide policy initiatives to support and uplift such workers.
SHG-Bank Linkages in Uttar Pradesh: Pathways to Women Empowerment through Micro-finance
Section: Articles Categories: Economics, Political Economy, Commerce & Management Keywords: Women-Exclusive SHGs, Financial Inclusion, Banking Performance, Rural Development, Uttar Pradesh This study examines the performance of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), particularly women-exclusive SHGs, in Uttar Pradesh, focusing on their financial inclusion and empowerment role. Employing cluster analysis, benchmarking, and proportional analysis, the research evaluates disparities in the performance of public, private, regional rural, and cooperative banks across metrics such as savings mobilization, loans disbursed, and loans outstanding from 2007 to 2023. Findings reveal that public sector banks consistently outperform, driving the majority of SHG-linked activities and demonstrating their institutional commitment to rural financial inclusion. In contrast, private and cooperative banks lag significantly, indicating underutilized potential in fostering SHG participation. Women-exclusive SHGs emerge as the dominant contributors, accounting for a substantial share of savings and credit activities, underscoring their pivotal role in rural development and household financial stability. However, disparities in engagement across bank types highlight the need for targeted policy interventions to enhance the involvement of underperforming institutions. The study concludes with recommendations for strengthening capacity-building initiatives, promoting gender-sensitive financial policies, and incentivizing private sector participation to create a more equitable SHG ecosystem. While the findings provide actionable insights for policymakers, the study acknowledges limitations such as the reliance on secondary data and the geographic scope limited to Uttar Pradesh, suggesting directions for future research to explore qualitative perspectives and broader regional analyses.
Opaque Political Funding: The Indian Experience on the Electoral Bond Scheme
Section: Articles Categories: Political Science, Public Policy, Law & International Relations Keywords: Party Funding, Electoral Bond Scheme, Election, Political Parties, Supreme Court This article analyses the issue of Electoral Bond Scheme (EBS) which have been introduced with a series of amendments to the existing related laws and regulations, which was challenged in the Supreme Court. The scheme has been a major area of discussion at various formal and informal forums among politicians, academicians, civil society and legal experts regarding it’s benefit and defects in the electoral politics. The regulatory character of the state and trade regimes provides ample scope to the politicians and political parties for unethical negotiation; creating a nexus between them and business sectors which is detrimental for electoral democracy. In this backdrop, the paper discusses the different major issues relating ‘Electoral Bond Scheme’ and the Supreme Courts observations and the effects of such a scheme of ‘quid pro quo’ to the democratic electoral system and the need for a proper transparent and accountable system of party funding which protects the electoral right of the citizens and strengthens the electoral democracy in India. Finally, the author tries to estimate the historic verdict delivered in February, 2024.
The Middle-Way of Diplomacy: Buddhism and Japan-India Relations
Section: Articles Categories: Political Science, Public Policy, Law & International Relations Keywords: Buddhism, Soft Power, Bilateral ties, Diplomatic Efforts, Cross-Cultural Dialogues Buddhism has served as a uniting factor between Japan and India from its historical origins in cultural exchanges to its current function in economics, diplomacy, and soft power tactics. A fundamental principle of Buddhism, the Middle Way promotes peace and balance while providing a structure for collaboration and dispute resolution. The study analyzes the role of Buddhism in both countries' soft power strategies, exploring its influence on political systems, governance, and bilateral relations. This research explores the historical ties that were established by Buddhist monks, the use of common Buddhist history in political and economic partnerships, and the ways in which both nations use Buddhism to improve their international reputation. It examines instances of cross-cultural dialogue, where Buddhist values such as empathy and mindfulness have influenced political relations. Additionally, the research looks at how Buddhist principles are integrated into policy decisions, shaping strategic choices that impact diplomatic efforts, including Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA). The research underscores the importance of understanding the shared cultural heritage between the two nations and how it influences global cooperation, cultural diplomacy, and conflict resolution. By studying these dynamics, the research sheds light on the role of Buddhism in fostering diplomatic ties and enhancing global reputations.
Understanding the Socio-Economic Dynamics of the Marginalized Meo Community in Ujina Village of Nuh District, Haryana
Section: Articles Categories: Geography, Environmental Studies, Sustainable Development & Area Studies, Education, Health, Psychology, Philosophy, Social Exclusion & Gender Studies Keywords: Marginalization, Meo community, Socio-economic dynamics, Ujina Village (Nuh) Subjects: Social geography, Marginalization, community, population Geography, Society This study investigates the socio-economic dynamics of the marginalized Meo community in Ujina village, Nuh District, Haryana, a historically disadvantaged group facing systemic exclusion. The objectives are to examine the community's socio-economic status, focusing on factors such as income, employment, education, and social mobility, and to identify the challenges and resilience patterns within the community. The research employs a quantitative methodology, using purposive and snowball sampling techniques to select 120 participants. Data collection involved face-to-face in-depth interviews and electronic surveys, analyzed using SPSS 27.0.1 software. Bivariate analysis was conducted to explore relationships among socio-economic variables. Findings reveal significant gender disparity, with males constituting 64.1% of the sample. Education levels are low, with 72.5% lacking formal education, affecting socio-economic mobility. Employment data indicate a heavy reliance on agriculture (44.1%), with minimal representation in formal sector jobs (2.5%). The income distribution shows a modest economic standing, with the majority earning between 30,000 and 39,999 rupees monthly. Correlation analyses suggest that higher educational attainment is linked to better occupational opportunities and greater participation in household decision-making; although the impact on mobility and asset ownership is limited. This research highlights the compounded effects of historical marginalization and systemic discrimination on the Meo community. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve educational access, enhance skill development, and create economic opportunities to foster social inclusion and economic empowerment for this marginalized group.
Fear of Missing Out: A Catalyst for Investment Choices
Section: Articles Categories: Economics, Political Economy, Commerce & Management Keywords: FOMO, social media, Investment decision-making, investors ‘Fear of Missing Out’ is feeling of anxiety that arises when someone thinks they are missing out on events, information, experiences, this gives a significant implication in financial markets, particularly in shaping investor behavior and decision-making. This study explores how FOMO influences individual investors to make impulsive & often irrational investment decisions, influenced by the anxiety of missing out on future gains and also examines various factors contributing to FOMO. Further study discusses the role of digital platforms and social media in amplifying FOMO, leading to more frequent and emotionally driven trading behaviours. Understanding the mechanisms of FOMO and its effect on financial decision-making is vital for developing strategies to mitigate its adverse effects, promoting more rational and disciplined investment practices. The study adopted survey technique taking data from 204 individual investors from Delhi NCR using google forms. The research provides insights into the behavioral finance field, emphasizing the need for investor education & behavioral interventions to manage FOMO and enhance market stability.
Educational Initiatives for Empowerment of Scheduled Tribe: A Case Study of Ladakh
Section: Articles Categories: Education, Health, Psychology, Philosophy, Social Exclusion & Gender Studies Keywords: Ladakh, Autonomous Hill Development Council, Scheduled Tribe, Education Subjects: Education Education serves as both a measure and a tool for development, playing a crucial role in the accumulation of human capital. The paper analyses the initiatives, and role of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council in imparting education for tribal communities in Ladakh. The study provides a thorough evaluation of the effectiveness of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council’s strategies and programs in enhancing education of tribal communities in Ladakh. It identifies strengths, weaknesses, and areas needing improvement, helping policymakers make informed decisions about future educational policies and programs. Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council has implemented major initiatives to advance educational development for tribal communities, with a focus on elementary, secondary, and higher education. This qualitative study relies on primary data collected from executive members of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) in the Leh and Kargil districts. In-depth interviews were conducted using an interview schedule to explore various issues and challenges concerning the education of Scheduled Tribe communities in Ladakh. Their comprehensive approach reflects a strong commitment to improving educational outcomes through targeted interventions and community involvement, contributing significantly to the broader goal of educational advancement in Ladakh. Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, encompassing both the Leh and Kargil district councils, has made significant strides in promoting education in Ladakh.
Cultural Continuity and Change: Analysing the Socio-Cultural and Historical Significance of Uttarakhand's Fairs in the Age of Globalisation
Section: Articles Categories: Anthropology, Sociology, Social Work, History & Archeology Keywords: Fairs , Festivals, Garhwal and Kumaon, Folk Tradtitions, Modernization, Globalization The state of Uttarakhand is renowned for its distinctive cultures and varying beliefs. Various fairs and festivals are celebrated throughout the year in the Garhwal and Kumaon regions of the state, such as Uttaraini mela, Devidhura mela, Maun mela, Vishu mela, Jauljibi mela, Gauchar mela, Nanda Devi fair. These fairs hold religious, socio-cultural, and economic significance in people's lives. These fairs and the festivities associated with them are related to the land, soil, crop harvesting, and changes in the seasons. They are considered auspicious by the people and serve various purposes for the people who come from distant places to visit them. These fairs are important trading centers as people come to sell their products in these fairs. Also, many folk songs and dances are alive today because these fairs are essential centers for social gatherings. This paper's study area is the Garhwal and Kumaon regions of Uttarakhand. The paper discusses the historical background of some of these fairs and their socio-cultural and economic importance. It also discusses the impact of modernization and globalization on these fairs and the efforts that can be made toward their preservation.
Labour Flexibility in the Information Technology Industry: 21st Century Developments
Section: Articles Categories: Other Interdisciplinary Studies Keywords: Information Technology, Labour, Agile, Control, Flexibility This paper deals with the transformational shift from the waterfall model of software development to the agile method, and the restructuring of production processes in the Information Technology Industry. The adaptation of the agile method intensified hegemonic control over value generation and internalisation of capital interests, via contradictory yet coexisting forms of fragmentation of tasks and collaborative labour processes. The current paper situates the blurring of paid and unpaid labour-time, propensity to enter the labour reserve, and internalisation of capital interests to be characteristic of labour in Information Technology, shaped by the agile method. Following this, the labour is classified as new recruits and Individual Contributors (ICs), semi-managerial positions, and (tech and non-tech) managerial positions; incrementally moving from being subjected to the capital's logic towards internalising capital class interests; drawn from the in-depth case studies of 95 IT workers from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HDMA) region. It argues that the progressively increasing integration of managerial tasks into job responsibility, which is central to the agile method, intensifies processes of capital accumulation by reinforcing labour flexibility to suit changing capital requirements.