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Domain: Gender

Unravelling the Threads of Gendered Labour Force Participation

The discourse on gender and labour force participation has undergone a significant transformation, with an increased focus on understanding the factors that are responsible for the disparity between men and women’s gender workforce participation. While the rise and fall of women’s workforce participation has been heavily documented, the major reasons that have been identified are: […]

Understanding Dropout Trajectories and Resilience Factors among Adolescent Girls in Jharkhand: An Evaluation of Aangan India’s School and Safety Model

Jharkhand continues to record high dropout rates among adolescent girls despite efforts by the state government and civil society organisations. This is largely due to multiple factors such as high prevalence of poverty, migration, child marriage, burden of unpaid care work, and more. To address this issue, Aangan Trust, a Delhi-based organisation, with their primary […]

The Effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic and Economic Distress on Education: A View from the Margins

With school closures and a disruption of education during the Covid-19 pandemic, children across India suffered a loss of learning. However, children from the most marginalised groups faced a disproportionate impact. Long periods of school closure push children from deprived sections into labour, sexual and labour trafficking, early marriages and long-term drop outs from school […]

Gendered impact of COVID-19 on education of school-aged children in Uttar Pradesh

The policy brief explores the impact of the pandemic on households in Uttar Pradesh (UP), with a focus on the economic distress and support measures provided. The brief is based on a survey of 944 households in rural and peri-urban areas across 11 districts. Key findings include:  Vulnerability: Uttar Pradesh was found to be particularly […]

Gendered impact of COVID-19 on education of school-aged children in India

The policy brief highlights that while a large proportion of households across India received some form of government support during the pandemic, there were significant variations in the type and reach of support across different states. Food distribution was the most common form of assistance, but its effectiveness varied. Anganwadi centres were more effective in […]

Gendered impact of COVID-19 on education of school-aged children in Bihar

The policy brief examines the impact of the pandemic on households in Bihar, with a focus on economic distress and support measures. It is based on a survey of 590 households across six districts in Bihar. Key findings include: 1. Food and Ration Access: A significant majority of families (92%) reported receiving uncooked food or […]

Gendered impact of COVID-19 on education of school-aged children in Assam

The policy brief discusses the impact of the pandemic on households in Assam, focusing on economic distress and responses to mitigate it. The brief is based on a survey of 484 households in rural and peri-urban areas across five districts. Key findings from the brief include: 1. Vulnerability: The state of Assam was found to […]

Postcards: Learning through Letters

The Learning through Letters Postcard Pack consists of a series of 50 letters and activities sent as postcards, designed for students in Bihar. The postcards aimed to engage students in learning while schools were closed, with topics ranging from COVID-19, health, and nutrition, to social issues, critical thinking, and environmental awareness. Overall, the postcards were […]

A Review of Government Notifications on COVID Protocols and Child Entitlements

The report reviews government notifications on COVID-19 protocols and child entitlements in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Assam, and at the national level. Bihar provided food grains to students in place of mid-day meals, with door-to-door delivery for those with acute encephalitis syndrome. They also set up village-level book stalls. UP provided uniforms and shoes to […]

Developing Mentoring Approaches for Transformative Education: Context and Challenges

This paper documents the difficult contexts and challenges of implementing a mentoring model in Bihar, one of the most backwards states, both educationally and economically, in India. The purpose of the mentoring model is to develop critical thinking skills among socially disadvantaged children and to provide them with tools and resources so that they are […]

Bihar Mentorship Project: Endline Survey Key Findings Report

As part of the action-research project on creating an empowerment-based mentoring module for instigating critical thinking skills in adolescent children, CBPS had conducted a baseline survey in April 2018. The baseline survey covered 755 students across 10 schools from different regions in Bihar, collecting information on various parameters such as profile of students and their […]

Macro-economic Impact of Covid-19 on Chhattisgarh’s Economy & Development of Responsive Financing Models

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the economy of Chhattisgarh, particularly in sectors like construction, travel and tourism, manufacturing, and trade. This policy brief analyses the expected revenue losses for the Government of Chhattisgarh and the reduction in gross state domestic product (GSDP) for the fiscal year, highlighting the strain on fiscal health and its implications […]

Macro-economic Impact of Covid-19 on the Economy of Chhattisgarh: Report II on Economic Growth and Fiscal Health

The Covid-19 pandemic profoundly impacted the global economy, with India experiencing one of the most significant contractions in its economic history. According to the National Statistical Office (NSO), India’s gross domestic product (GDP) for 2020-21 contracted by 7.3%, marking a substantial decline from the previous fiscal year. This downturn was particularly pronounced in the services […]

Macro-economic Impact of Covid-19 on the Economy of Chhattisgarh: Report I

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the global economy, with India experiencing a significant contraction in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during the fiscal year 2020-21. This report analyses the macroeconomic impact of the pandemic on Chhattisgarh’s economy, highlighting a GDP contraction of 22.8% and 7.5% in the first two quarters, respectively. Key sectors such […]

Quality and Systemic Functioning in Secondary Education in India: A Study in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan

Secondary education has gained relevance given India’s steady economic expansion over the previous two decades, spearheaded by high-skill industries like information technology, tourism, telecommunications, retail, etc. Employer surveys, however, suggest a scarcity of competent labor. Therefore, more people with secondary education are needed (World Bank, 2009) in order to maintain this scale of development. While […]

Policy Brief | An Analysis of the Bhagyalakshmi Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme in Karnataka

This policy brief provides a comprehensive analysis of the Bhagyalakshmi Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme (CCT) in Karnataka, introduced in 2006-07 to address gender disparities, including the adverse child sex ratio, high prevalence of child marriage, and limited access to education for girls. The scheme targets Below Poverty Line (BPL) households, incentivizing the education and delayed […]

Mathrupoorna, Ksheera Bhagya and Srusti Schemes in Karnataka: A review of awareness and delivery

This report examines the Mathrupoorna, Ksheera Bhagya, and Srusti schemes in Karnataka, which aim to improve maternal and child health through nutritional interventions. The study assesses the level of awareness, utilisation, and perceived benefits of these schemes, along with the challenges faced during their implementation. Data was gathered through household surveys, focus group discussions, and […]

Mathrupoorna, Ksheera Bhagya and Srusti Schemes in Karnataka: A review of Awareness, Utilization and Delivery

This policy brief examines the Mathru Poorna, Ksheera Bhagya, and Srusti schemes implemented in Karnataka to address child and maternal malnutrition. Despite Karnataka’s economic growth and early adoption of initiatives like the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), the state lags behind southern counterparts in maternal and child health metrics. These schemes aim to provide nutritional […]

Report: Whose Fate and Whose Wealth? An analysis of the Bhagyalakshmi scheme in Karnataka

Gender disparity remains a significant challenge in Karnataka, as evidenced by declining sex ratios at birth. In response, the state introduced the Bhagyalakshmi Scheme (BL) in 2006-07, offering conditional cash transfers to girl children in Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. This report is part of the study conducted by CBPS to evaluate the effectiveness of […]

National Capacities Strengthened to Address Gender Equality in Education

This study investigates the root causes of boys’ underachievement and disengagement from education, focusing on intersectional factors across individual, family, and societal levels. It also evaluates policy initiatives to address these challenges and explores the potential for scaling successful strategies.

Bihar Mentorship Project: Curriculum Linkages

The overall goal of the Bihar Mentoring Project (BMP) funded by the Malala Fund was to develop an empowerment-based mentoring model based on an action-research study of three years in ten urban and rural schools in Bihar. Focusing on adolescent boys and girls, the mentoring model introduced a new form of pedagogy that prioritised critical […]

Bihar Mentorship Project: Baseline Survey Report (English)

Funded and supported by the Malala Fund, the project titled Empowerment-based Mentoring Model for Adolescent Girls: Action Research in Bihar, created a mentoring model that aimed at honing leadership skills of adolescent girls and boys and providing them with tools and resources to develop critical thinking skills. In order to develop a responsive and scalable […]

Mahila Samakhya: A Reflection

Mahila Samakhya (MS), established by the Government of India in 1987, was a pioneering women’s education and empowerment programme that redefined education as a vehicle for both literacy and empowerment. Unlike typical government initiatives, MS placed rural women’s needs at its core, aiming to cultivate critical thinking and understanding of societal structures rather than merely […]

Empowerment-based Mentoring Model for Adolescent Girls: Action Research in Bihar

The project aimed to demonstrate the impact of an empowerment-based mentoring model for adolescent girls that will develop leadership skills, allow them to develop critical thinking skills, examine and change their self-perceptions and aspirations, and enable actions related to themselves, their families and their communities.

Working Paper: Uneasy tenants in the Master’s house: Reflections on Mahila Samakhya

The working paperUneasy tenants in the Master’s house: Reflections on Mahila Samakhya published in 2018 focuses on Mahila Samakhya’s growth and the possible circumstances that led to the downfall. The Mahila Samakhya (MS) programme, initiated in 1988 under the National Policy on Education, sought to empower marginalised rural women in India through education and collective […]

Mahila Samakhya: A descriptive analysis of a baseline study in Haveri, Karnataka

This report analyses the impact of the Mahila Samakhya (MS) program on women’s economic empowerment in Haveri, Karnataka. The MS program aims to reduce gender inequality by promoting collective action and education among rural women. Our study uses a mixed-methods approach, including a randomised control trial (RCT) and embedded ethnography, to explore sustainable economic empowerment, […]

Together We Can: Assessing the Impact of Women’s Action Groups on Social Change in India

This project was a part of the Growth and Economic Opportunities for Women (GrOW), funded by IDRC. The aim of the project was two-fold: (i) To evaluate the impact of Mahila Samakhya (MS) programme on the economic empowerment of women, and (ii) To raise awareness and influence policies regarding collective action-based programmes among government functionaries, […]

Boys’ Underperformance in Education: Revisiting the Issue in the Commonwealth

Every child, regardless of gender, has the right to an education that offers not only academic learning but also training in the skills they will need to be successful in their particular environment. However, as recent statistics indicate, a significant percentage of children are still unable to access good quality education and so are denied […]

Understanding Gendered Empowerment Through a Government Run Microfinance Programme: The Case of Stree Shakti in Karnataka

The Stree Shakti programme (SSP) was conceptualised in 2000-2001 as a women’s empowerment programme to strengthen their access to financial resources. TSSP was based on the principles of self-help groups (SHGs), wherein skill development and other incentives are provided to rural women through micro-credit and savings to enhance their opportunities for economic and social mobility. […]

Whose Fate and Whose Wealth? An Analysis of the Bhagya Lakshmi Scheme in Karnataka

The Bhagya Lakshmi (BL) scheme in Karnataka addresses gender disparities, focusing on birth rates and social indicators. Initiated in 2006-07, it offers conditional cash transfers to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families upon fulfilling specified criteria. Primarily targeting the declining sex ratio at birth and enhancing girls’ education and health outcomes, BL holds significant implications for […]

Ethnographic Study of Hot Cooked Meal Pilot for Pregnant and Lactating Mothers

An ethnographic study of the new Hot Cooked Meals (HCM) pilot programme for Pregnant and Lactating women (P&L) that is to be launched by WCD. The project will be undertaken in two districts, as per the request of WCD. The study will use methods of observations, interviews and case studies at selected anganwadis for this purpose.

Why it is important to retain an independent Mahila Samakhya Programme

The policy brief titled “Why it is important to retain an independent Mahila Samakhya Programme,” prepared by the Centre for Budget and Policy Studies in 2016, argues for the continuation of the Mahila Samakhya (MS) programme. Launched in 1989 under India’s Ministry of Human Resource Development, MS promotes women’s empowerment through education and collective action, […]

Policy Brief: Why it is important to retain an independent Mahila Samakhya Programme

The policy brief titled “Why it is important to retain an independent Mahila Samakhya Programme,” prepared by the Centre for Budget and Policy Studies in 2016, argues for the continuation of the Mahila Samakhya (MS) programme. Launched in 1989 under India’s Ministry of Human Resource Development, MS promotes women’s empowerment through education and collective action, […]

Reducing Child Marriage in India : A model to Scale Up Results

This report by the Centre for Budget and Policy Studies in collaboration with UNICEF, addresses the persistent and widespread issue of child marriage in India, where approximately 30% of women aged 20-24 were married before the age of 18. Despite some progress, with the rate of child marriage decreasing from 1% per year between 1990 […]

Residential Schooling Strategies: Impact on Girls’ Education and Empowerment

This study examines the various residential schooling strategies for girls within India’s publicly funded education system. While multiple initiatives exist, there is no cohesive national policy specifically targeting residential schooling, particularly for girls. Information about the performance and impact of these programs remains uneven and sporadic, with even less available on similar programs in the […]

Emerging Employment Opportunities and Women’s Experiences of Empowerment and Violence

The Information Technology (IT) industry has dramatically transformed India’s small towns and cities, driving innovation, economic opportunities, and new forms of employment. This transformation has created both upward mobility and increased social inequalities, with women being central to these changes. Women, particularly middle-class, English-speaking workers, have found new roles in this globalized industry, enjoying higher […]

Residential Schools for Girls in India: Review of Policy and Practice

Several residential schooling strategies exist for girls in the publicly funded school system in India but there is no definite policy on residential schooling in general or for girls in particular. The information on the performance of these programmes remains uneven, isolated and sporadic. A good number also exist in private sector catering to both […]

Reducing Child Marriage in India: A Model to Scale Up Results

A desk-based study that aimed to develop a model for scaling up interventions to accelerate reduction of child marriage. This study analysed the data regarding education, marital status of children (married, separated, divorced) and status of child marriage in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh (undivided) and West Bengal. 

Reproductive and Child Health Services in Karnataka: How Much Do They Cost?

In 1997, the Karnataka government launched the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) programme, having modified it to focus on more contemporary concerns, such as improved ante natal care and sexual health education. This was provided as a continuation of its existing Maternal and Child Health (MCH) schemes. This paper conducts a budget analysis of the […]