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 […]
Scenario Assessment and Short-term Response Planning for Nutrition-related Service Delivery in the Context of Covid-19 Pandemic
India is home to the bulk of the world’s undernourished children, with 50% of Indian children suffering from some form of undernutrition, mainly wasting or stunting. Karnataka has been cited to be one of the states, which have experienced high economic growth but continue to perform poorly on the child nutrition front (NITI Aayog (2016); Banerjee and Klasen (2018))
The Covid-19 pandemic and its associated disruptions to schools and anganwadi centres has resulted in the loss of a guaranteed means of food for children, for many of whom this would be the first full meal of the day. Due to lockdowns, employment and income losses, food supply chain disruptions and diversion of resources to meet immediate public health challenges, nutrition gaps are likely to be further exacerbated unless there is a well-planned strategy to prevent such discontinuity.
There is a need to understand the myriad of ways in which COVID-19 or any such public health disaster can impact the supplementary nutrition interventions to reduce its potential impacts in the future. In this study we propose to understand the multiple potential impacts of COVID-19 on nutrition and nutrition service delivery, and on maternal and child nutrition status in Karnataka as part of this initiative. The project has been undertaken with the objective of preparing for and mitigating negative impacts of Covid-19 on maternal and child nutrition.
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 […]
Comparative Summary of Six States focusing on the extent of Urbanisation, State/ULB Finances & Sanitation/SWM Indicators
The status across the six states was summarised using various parameters such as urbanization levels, size of the economy, devolution of the 3 Fs (functions, funds and functionaries), state expenditure on water supply and sanitation as well as urban development, indicators of municipal finances, sanitation and SWM and forming a matrix. The matrix consists of […]
An Institutional Mapping of Urban Local Bodies through the Lens of Sanitation and Solid Waste Management Services
This policy brief is based on research carried out in the six states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu (TN), Karnataka and Kerala, with a larger focus on Karnataka and TN. The research especially focused on (i) the role of ULBs and other institutions including state governments and parastatal bodies, and (ii) aspects of […]
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 […]
Improving State Capability: Learning from Rajasthan’s Experiences in Frontline Service Delivery
The study examines last-mile implementation challenges in Rajasthan’s public service delivery, focusing on weak capacity and accountability among service providers. It highlights the Jan Aadhaar platform, which integrates government services to enhance efficiency and coordination, offering valuable insights for reforming service delivery systems in other states.
An Institutional Mapping of Urban Local Bodies Through the Lens of Sanitation and Solid Waste Management Services
This study investigates the complexities of urban governance in India, particularly in the context of rapid urbanisation and its implications for service delivery in urban local bodies (ULBs). With India’s urban population projected to rise significantly, effective management of urban services such as sanitation and solid waste management is critical for sustaining productivity and enhancing […]
Public Expenditure on Children in India: An analysis of union and state government budgets
This policy brief explores public expenditure on children in India, emphasising the critical need for targeted government investment to support children’s well-being and development. The analysis highlights that public spending on children encompasses various sectors, including education, health, nutrition, and child protection, and is guided by both national and international commitments such as the Convention […]