Research Theme 2 Work & Employment - IHD 2... · of unorganised sector employment, ... International Labour Organization(ILO) Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. Ashok Mathur

www.ihdindia.org COMPLETED RESEARCH PROJECTS

Theme : Work and Employment

Economic Liberalisation and Labour Market Flexibility in India Collaboration/s: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. L.K. Deshpande and Prof. Alakh. N. Sharma This study analyses the impact of economic liberalisation on labour market flexibility in India. Sponsored by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India, this study is based on an extensive survey of about 1500 firms spread over 10 states of India. The study has also been published in the form of a book. Youth Employment in India: Role of Employers and Government in its Promotion Collaboration/s: International Labour Organization (ILO) Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. Alakh N. Sharma and Dr. Vandana Parashar Sponsored by ILO, Geneva, this study analyses the trends and patterns in the youth labour market in India and the role of Government–industry interaction in the promotion of the employment and employability of youth. Social Labelling and Child Labour in Carpet Industry Collaboration/s: International Labour Organization (ILO) Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. Alakh N. Sharma and Dr. Rajiv Sharma Based on a field survey of 36 villages in the states of Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar and Rajasthan, and sponsored by ILO, Geneva, the study assesses the impact of various interventions on child labour and schooling in the carpet industry. It has also been published in the form of a book.

www.ihdindia.org Strikes and Lockouts in India Collaboration/s: Ministry of Labour, Government of India Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. Ruddar Datt This study, based on a survey of industries in West Bengal, examines the causes and implications of the phenomenon of lockouts. It was sponsored by the Ministry of Labour, Government of India. The study has been published in the form of a book. Towards Empowerment: Experiences of Organizing Women Workers in India Collaboration/s: International Labour Organization (ILO) Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Ms. Piush Antony This study evolves appropriate strategies and policy recommendations for the empowerment of women workers on the basis of the experiences of selected case studies of organised forms of women workers. Informal Sector in India Collaboration/s: International Labour Organization (ILO) Prof. L.K. Deshpande The study critically reviews the strategies and policies adopted so far in India with regard to the informal sector and analyses their implications in the present context. It was sponsored by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Rural Labour Migration in Bihar Collaboration/s: Ministry of Statistics, Government of India Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Professor Alakh N. Sharma and Mr. Anup K. Karan This study analyses the dynamics of labour migration in rural Bihar. The study is based on data collected from 18 villages in three districts of Bihar.

www.ihdindia.org Tribal Migration from Jharkhand Collaboration/s: Ministry of Labour, Government of India Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. H. Dayal and Mr. Anup K. Karan This study analyses the nature and pattern as well as implications of rural labour migration in Jharkhand. The study has been conducted in 12 villages of the Gumla, Palamu, and Dumka districts of Jharkhand. Restructuring of the Unorganised Sector in India Collaboration/s: Planning Commission, Government of India Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. Sheila Bhalla

Sponsored by the Planning Commission, this study examines the reasons for the decline of unorganised sector employment, value addition and enterprise, and labour productivity. The study covers unorganised manufacturing, trade, restaurants, hotels and other lodging places, services, transport, storage and warehousing, and communications in rural and urban areas separately in 15 major states as well as in India as a whole. Women Workers in the Unorganized Sector: The More the Merrier? Collaboration/s: The World Bank Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. Alakh N. Sharma and Ms. Piyush Antony Sponsored by the World Bank, this study reviews the extent and status of women workers in the unorganised sector in India. The study is based on secondary data and an extensive survey of literature. Child Labour in Textile Industry of Varanasi Collaboration/s: V.V. Giri National Labour Institute Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. Alakh N. Sharma and Mr. Nikhil Raj This study investigates the phenomenon of child Labour in the textile industry, particularly the sari industry, in Varanasi. It was conducted jointly with the VV Giri National Labour Institute, Noida.

www.ihdindia.org Dynamics of Poverty, Employment and Human Development in Rural Bihar (Second Phase) Collaboration/s: National Agricultural Bank for Research and Development (NABARD) Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. Alakh N. Sharma This study was a continuation of work undertaken earlier by the Institute. Sponsored by NABARD, it analyses the dynamics of change in rural Bihar with respect to production systems, labour relations, livelihood and the quality of life. The study examines in detail the functioning of the rural credit system—both formal and informal—and its linkage with labour and land markets. It is based on longitudual primary data collected from 12 villages from 6 districts of the state. Employment and Labour Market Assessment in the Chittor District in Andhra Pradesh Collaboration/s: International Labour Organization (ILO) Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. D.N. Reddy Sponsored by ILO, this study assesses the employment and labour market situation and skill levels in the district of Chittor in Andhra Pradesh. It also offers suggestions for the design and implementation of an area-based demonstration action programme on employment generation. Employment and Labour Market Assessment in the Cuttack District, Orissa Collaboration/s: International Labour Organization (ILO) Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. L.K. Deshpande This study, which was also sponsored by the ILO, assesses the employment situation and labour market needs in terms of skill development in the district of Cuttack in Orissa. The study has been undertaken to facilitate the design and implementation of the area-based demonstration action programme on employment generation and reforms in the skill, training and employment exchange system. Development of a Vulnerability to Debt Bondage Index Collaboration/s: International Labour Organization (ILO) Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. D.N. Reddy, Prof. Amitabh Kundu and Prof. Alakh N. Sharma Sponsored by ILO, this study develops a Vulnerability to Debt Bondage Index (VDBI), composed of a set of indicators which can be used for identifying and targeting

www.ihdindia.org households that are vulnerable to debt bondage in the South Asian region. The VDBI has developed data from two baseline surveys conducted in Nepal with a focus on the former Kamaiyas of the western Terai, and in India with a focus on agricultural labourers in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. Poverty, Levels of Living and Employment Structure in the Small and Medium Towns Collaboration/s: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. Darshini Mahadevia and Dr. Sandip Sarkar Sponsored by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, this study measures the incidence of poverty, as also the changes therein and the employment structure and the changes in the same over time among the medium and small towns in major Indian states. Apart from analysing the secondary data, the study also intensively covers the states of Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat by collecting data at micro levels on municipal finance and development activities. A revised version of the study has been published by Oxford University Press. Rehabilitation of Workers in the Closed Textile Mills in Indore (Madhya Pradseh) Collaboration/s: Ministry of Labour, Government of India Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. Jaya Mehta Sponsored by the Ministry of Labour, this study examines the present context of rehabilitation of workers of textile mills that have closed down, their re-training for integration into the labour market, and regularising of the informal labour market for ensuring a reasonable wage level and working conditions in Indore. Employment Generation in Micro and Small Enterprises Collaboration/s: International Labour Organization(ILO) Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. Ashok Mathur and Dr. Vandana Parasher Sponsored by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), this study analyses the trends and patterns of employment growth in the small and micro enterprises. The study, which is based on various sources of secondary data, provides information regarding the potential of employment generation in this sector.

www.ihdindia.org Poverty and Employment among Tribal in India Collaboration/s: Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. Navin Chandra

This study, conducted under sponsorship from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, aims to document the status of poverty and employment among tribals in India. Based on secondary data and review of literature, the study also analyses the various constraints that the tribals face in trying to eke out sustainable livelihoods. Globalisation, Labour Markets and Inequality in Asia Collaboration/s: International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. Deepak Mazumdar and Dr. Sandip Sarkar Sponsored by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, this project investigated the impact of the ‘opening up of the Indian economy to the global economy on the distribution of income, and more specifically, on the incidence of poverty in Asian economies through its effect on the labour market, labour income and the employment structure. The study was conducted in collaboration with the University of Toronto. It has been published in book form by Routledge London Employment and Social Security for the workers in the Unorganised Sector

Collaboration/s: Indo Dutch Programme on Alternatives in Development (IDPAD) Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. Alakh N. Sharma, Professor L.K. Deshpande, and Prof. Mario Rutten This study, also sponsored by Indo-Dutch Programme on Alternatives in Development (IDPAD) (IDPAD), is concerned with the issues of employment security in the unorganised sector, both rural and urban. The major research issues addressed by the study include an analysis of the trends and patterns of change in the labour market scenario in India during the post-liberalisation period in terms of security, stability, regularity and flexibility of employment; to discern and map the sectors, occupations, regions and groups wherein informal employment and precarious forms of labour are concentrated; to evaluate the limited employment security mechanisms evolved by government, private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and to document the best practices in this regard; and to provide a broad framework of employment security for various sectors and occupational groups in the unorganised

www.ihdindia.org sector. The study, which is based on both secondary and primary data, was conducted in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam. Employment Generation in Uttaranchal: Constraints and Opportunities

Collaboration/s: Planning Commission, Government of India Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. R.P. Mamgain

Sponsored by the Planning Commission, Government of India, this study assesses the sustainable employment potential of the state of Uttarakhand after undertaking a comprehensive survey of all its hill districts. Evaluation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in Bihar

Collaboration/s: UNDP Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. Ashok Pankaj

This evaluation study was assigned by the Ministry of Rural Development and sponsored by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It presents a critical analysis of the functioning of the NREGS in Bihar.

India’s Employment Challenges: Answering Old Questions with New Data Collaboration/s: The World Bank Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. Sandip Sarkar

Funded by the World Bank, this project involves analysis of secondary data collected during the 61st Round of the National Sample Survey Organisation in order to address various issues and challenges pertaining to employment in the country. India Labour and Employment Report

Collaboration/s: International Labour Organization (ILO) and IDRC

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. T.S. Papola , Dr. Gerry Rodgers and Prof. Alakh N.Sharma

This project was funded by The International Development Research Council (IDRC), International Labour Organisation (ILO). The study entailed studying and mapping various aspects and dimensions of the labour and employment issues in the

www.ihdindia.org country, and compiling them into the India Labour and Employment Report. The report will be published by the Oxford University Press by December 2012.

Implementation of Minimum Wages Act in Chhattisgarh

Collaboration/s: Ministry of Labour, Government of India

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Mr. Navin Chandra

This project, which is being sponsored by the Ministry of Labour, entails an evaluation of the implementation aspects of the Minimum Wages Act in the state of Chhattisgarh.

Impact Assessment of Growth Oriented Micro Enterprise Development Programme in India (Baseline Survey)

Collaboration/s: Agriculture Cooperative Development International/Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance of USAID

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. R.P. Mamgain

The Growth Oriented Micro-Enterprise Development (GMED) programme was initiated under the USAID/India Micro-Enterprise Development Strategy that began in October 2004. The overarching goal of GMED was is to develop a prototype approach for improving job creation and poverty reduction. IHD was assigned the task of evaluating the programme in India by the Agricultural Cooperative Development International/Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI/VOCA) in May 2006 with the aim of creating a baseline database. The survey work was undertaken in six states which covered three sectors, viz. fresh fruits and vegetables, organic food products, and municipal solid waste management, covering about 2000 households and more than 85 key informants associated with the programme. The outcome of the study includes clean data sets pertaining to household production and livelihoods patterns, sales, and qualitative reports for three sectors. The Institute also prepared some academic papers based on the survey.

www.ihdindia.org Formal and Informal Employment Growth in Manufacturing in South Asia: India and Bangladesh

Collaboration/s: IDRC, Canada

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. Sandip Sarkar and Dr. Dipak Mazumdar

The overall objective of the research project is to study the capacity of the formal and informal sectors in the Indian and Bangladeshi manufacturing sectors to provide employment. The project was sponsored by the International Development Research Council (IDRC), Canada. For conducting the Bangladesh part of the study, IHD engaged the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, Dhaka. The study is coming out in book form in September 2012 (Routledge India)

Coordination of Regional activities of the Social Protection in Asia (SPA) Programme

Collaboration/s: Ford Foundation through Institute of Development Studies (IDS), UK in the First Year. Thereafter, it is funded by IDRC

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. Alakh N. Sharma and Mr. Upendranadh

This research and network building programme was funded by Ford Foundation and IDRC Jointly managed by IDS (Rusen) and IHD, the Institute implemented by the project on research coordination, networking and advocacy. IHD managed the website of the programme, www.socialprotectionasia.org, and also published quarterly newsletters Expansion of the network and hosting of regional events were also part of the agenda.

Institutional and Governance Challenges in Social Protection: Designing Implementation Models for the Right to Work Programme in India

Collaboration/s: IDS, UK

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. Alakh N.Sharma , Dr. D.N. Reddy and Mr. C. Upendranadh

This study attempts to present a policy and reform agenda before the government and other actors for enhancing the effectiveness of implementation of the NREGS. It has brought out lessons from the implementation of NREG in the states of Andhra Pradesh,

www.ihdindia.org Rajasthan and Bihar through process diagnostics. The objectives of the study included identification of typologies of the implementation models available and factors that contributed towards the realisation of the outcomes of the programme. The study would thus also assist policy-makers in identifying bottlenecks and mechanisms to address the same. An exhaustive review of literature was been carried out for the project alongwith field surveys in two rounds. The study was being supported by IDS, UK under the SPA programme.

Investment, Growth and Employment in India

Collaboration/s: International Labour Organization (ILO)

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. Alakh N.Sharma

Under the framework of the ILO–Korea Partnership Programme, IHD has been asked to prepare a research paper on the impact of investment on growth and employment in the context of economic liberalisation in India.

Tracing Migrants in Delhi to Bihar: An enquiry into the Role of Migration as Development facilitator in the Poor Origin Areas

Collaboration/s: South Asia Network of Economic Research Institutes (SANEI), Pakistan

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Ms. Resmi Bhaskaran

Sponsored by the South Asia Network of Economic Research Institutions (SANEI), this study tries to understand the role and nature of migration in facilitating the development of the poor regions of origin of the migrants. It also attempts to develop an understanding of the scope of using migrants as development facilitators in the poor regions in India and also of the key development support that is needed to facilitate changes at the origin. The study enhances the debate on migration and suggests the use of informed rehabilitation strategies at the origin.

www.ihdindia.org National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), Gender Relations and Women’s Empowerment

Collaboration/s: UNIFEM

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. Ashok Pankaj

This is a study of 428 women workers selected from four districts, including one each from Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. The study explores the extent to which women's participation in the employment guarantee scheme has helped empower them. The empowerment aspects have been examined vis-à-vis the income–consumption effects, changes in intra-household decision-making, increase in the choice and capacity of women workers, and their increased participation in community development processes. The long-term implications of these changes in terms of gender relations have also been explored.

Nature of Work, Quality of Work and Working Conditions in ICT Sector: A Case of India.

Collaboration/s: Nanyang Technological University, Singapore/ IDRC

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Mr. Balwant Singh Mehta

This study examined the nature and structure of employment in the ICT sector in India and its impact on the work and labour market. The data related to the ICT sector was collected from both secondary and primary sources. Under the primary source, data was collected from 150 workers of the IT industry and from 150 ITeS workers spread across different segments of the industry in the National Capital Region of Delhi. The data was supplemented by interviews with Human Resource (HR) heads or employers, policy-makers in the government and case studies. The study also covered various other issues like the structure of firms, nature of work, turnover, job security, social security, general participation, demand and skills, etc. The study was sponsored by Nanyang Technological University. The final report has been submitted.

Study Reports on Six Important Issues of Policy Discourse in India

Collaboration/s: Oxfam India

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Mr. Aseem Prakash

Based on exhaustive reviews and analysis of secondary data. The Institute, in partnership with Oxfam India, conducted studies six important issues of policy discourse in India. These research themes were the National Rural Employment

www.ihdindia.org Guarantee Act (NREGA), Food Security, Education, Health, Lagging and Vulnerable States, and Social Discrimination. The aim of the study was to suggest possible interventions at two levels, that is, policy advocacy as well as actual intervention on behalf of the civil society actors. The objectives of these studies were to: a) Provide a well-researched and analysed knowledge bank of information on the theme in its larger social, economic, historical and political contexts; and b) Support the development of the programming focus of Oxfam India on these selective themes, by identifying the key priorities and approaches to address the various challenges.

Informal Employment, Poverty and Growth in India and China

Collaboration/s: IRMA and IDRC

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. Alakh N. Sharma and Dr. R.P. Mamgain

This project was jointly undertaken by IHD and the Institute for Rural Management, Anand (IRMA) with financial support from IDRC. The objective of the study was to provide an in-depth field-based analysis of labour markets and informal work in India and China, two countries which account for the world’s largest workforces. The study aimed to understand the relationship between informal employment, poverty and growth. Apart from analysing various characteristics of the informal sector and informal employment, the study analyses the consequences of informality on earnings, health and social protection. The study also examined the issue of women’s employment in the informal sector, and shows how disproportionate their number is in informal jobs with differentials in earnings and working conditions. It also examined the issue of migrant workers and their experiences of integration in the urban labour markets. It attempted to measure the contribution of informal employment to economic growth and poverty reduction in a comparative framework between India and China. The cities chosen for undertaking comparative studies in India were Delhi and Ranchi.

Seven papers on various aspects of labour market have been prepared by IRMA and IHD on this study. They are slated to be published in a special issue of the IHD journal, the Indian Journal of Labour Economics, in which several scholars have contributed, as well as in the form of a book from a reputed publisher. The study also attempted to fill up a number of conceptual and empirical gaps in the analysis of labour markets in the informal sector.

www.ihdindia.org Vulnerable Workers in Global Production Networks: Case Studies of Trafficked and Forced Labour in Brazil and India

Collaboration/s: Chronic Poverty Research Group, UNDP, Brazil

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. Dev Nathan and Mr. Upendranadh

This study explored the issues of social compliance, especially with reference to child labour in the garment value chain covering readymade garments and embellishments. The purpose of the study was to identify the vulnerabilities of different sections of workers in the value chain. The study was conducted in and around Delhi (the NCR region) and the field data for it was gathered from various communities, garment units, intermediary agencies, monitoring and certification agencies, and government officials.

Study on Macro-economic Effects of India’s NREGS

Collaboration/s: International Labour Organization (ILO)

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. Ajit Ghose

The Institute conducted a study on the effects of India’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) on the incomes of the rural poor, and also the consequent effect on the effective demand in the economy for the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The NREGS, launched in 2006, guaranteed employment of up to 100 days in a year at a specified minimum wage to each rural household. Although doubts have been raised about the sustainability of productive employment under the NREGS, it definitely acts as a mechanism for transfer of payments to the rural poor. The study assessed the impact of the scheme on the incomes of the rural poor and the effect of increased incomes of the poor on the demand for goods and services in the economy.

Job Creation for Women in South Asia

Collaboration/s: The World Bank

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. Preet Rustagi and Dr. Dev Nathan

This study examines a number of questions that have a bearing on women’s employment in South Asia. Some of the questions raised are as follows: Are there any constraints for women’s labour market participation and what are the regional dimensions of these constraints? What are the challenges for creating better jobs as well as any employment for women in South Asia? To what extent are the women affected in their work participation and returns by the initial endowments and human capital

www.ihdindia.org attributes? The prevalent gender stereotypes in labour market participation prevent women from benefiting fully from such work and at times inhibit their upward mobility as well. Is it education, skill and training that act as constraints? What are the ways in which this is being addressed across the region? A portrayal of the labour market inequalities, especially concerning the gender, age, caste and religion aspects, has also been undertaken as part of the study.

Engendering Development through MGNREGS: A Study of Women Workers in the States of UP, AP, Karnataka and Maharashtra

Collaboration/s: UN Women

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. Ashok Pankaj

This study was funded by UN Women. The aim of the study was to develop the effects of MGNRE.0GA on rural women in the states of UP, Maharashtra, AP and Karnataka. Development effects have been meant in a broader sense and include various concepts and processes like gender development and women empowerment.

This study was a continuation of a previous study that focused on the empowerment effects of MGNREGA on rural women in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and .0Himachal Pradesh (HP) and examines the following questions: To what extent have paid employment opportunities under the MGNREGS resulted in improved economic and social conditions for women workers, and how far have these improvements in the social and economic conditions of women workers helped them in realizing better social and community level impacts? What is the extent and quality of women’s participation in the procedural aspects, say in the gram sabha meetings and the decision-making process, selection of the work, management of the work and their role in the control and management of the assets created, and of the organization of public works under the MGNREGA? To what extent has women’s participation increased in the decision-making process, and their role improved in the participatory development process? What are the larger social and economic impacts of the creation of community assets, and to what extent have those assets helped in realizing the larger goals of gender development?

The study found that as against the high participation of women as workers, their participation in the procedural aspects is low. This restricts the larger and community level empowerment effects of the programme and women’s participation in the community development process.

www.ihdindia.org Understanding the Processes, Institutions, and Mechanisms of Implementation and Impact Assessment of NREGA in Bihar and Jharkhand

Collaboration/s: UNDP

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. Ashok Pankaj

This project studies the implementation process, mechanism, difficulties and impacts of the NREGA on the beneficiary individuals and communities vis-à-vis the major objectives of the Act. The study is based on fieldwork carried out in nine districts (including six in Bihar and three in Jharkhand), spread across 30 villages (including 18 in Bihar and 12 in Jharkhand). This study examines the impact of the scheme on individual beneficiaries in terms of income–consumption effects, changes in migration and indebtedness, and the impact of community assets on the local economy, wage rate, and agrarian conditions.

Changing Gender Relations and Women’s Empowerment: Implementation of NREGA in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand

Collaboration/s: UN Women

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. Ashok Pankaj

The National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREG) Act mandates that one-third of the workers under the scheme should be women. This study aims to analyse the impact of NREGA on various critical aspects of women’s empowerment. The study, which is based on field surveys conducted in the states of Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh, has been sponsored by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM, now known as UN Women).

Aiming at Inclusive Development in Bihar: Social and Economic Change in Rural Bihar and the Emerging Policy Framework

Collaboration/s: UNDP

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. Gerry Rodgers, Prof. Alakh N. Sharma, Dr. Sunil Kumar Mishra and Ms. Amrita Datta

A major research programme, entitled, ‘Aiming at Inclusive Development in Bihar: The Dynamics of Change over Thirty Years (1980-2010) and the Emerging Policy Framework’, is currently underway at IHD. The main long-term goal of the programme

www.ihdindia.org is to facilitate improved performance in the social and economic development of Bihar, and a wider sharing of the benefits of that development. Dr. Gerry Rodgers and Professor Alakh N. Sharma are the co-directors of this research programme. In order to achieve its goal, the programme aims to deliver better information on the pattern of development in Bihar, and to enable an analysis of the key factors that are responsible for both the positive and adverse dimensions of change. This improved knowledge base would inform policy formulation and implementation for inclusive development at the local, state and Central levels, and would be used in a programme of capacity building and policy dialogue.

Within the programme, the project ‘Social and Economic Change in Rural Bihar and the Emerging Policy Framework’, sponsored by the UNDP was completed during the last academic year. The first project, conducted on the pattern of rural development and growth, uses household and village level data from a representative sample of 36 villages in 7 districts of Bihar, and maps out the current situation in depth. This information is used to analyse agrarian relations, employment and labour markets, social inclusion and exclusion, productivity and production, investment and growth. It explores the nature and content of poverty in the state, and assesses the reach and effectiveness of different types of state intervention, as well as the functioning of local institutions. The findings of this research have been published in book form for further dissemination.

Other projects on rural–urban links, urban growth and industrialization, women’s work, and migration are currently at various stages of development and execution.

Global Value Chains and their Impact on Employment and Incomes at the Local Level

Collaboration/s: International Institute for Labour Studies (IILS)

Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Prof. Alakh N. Sharma and Dr. Dev Nathan

The Institute has prepared a study on ‘Global Value Chains and Their Impact on Employment and Incomes at the Local Level’ for the International Institute for Labour Studies, ILO, Geneva. The study was presented at a workshop on ‘A Development Agenda for Employment and Decent Work in India’, organised by the International Institute for Labour Studies in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Research in Mumbai during 10-11 August 2006. The Institute was also a partner in the organisation of the above workshop.

www.ihdindia.org Work and Livelihoods of the Poor in the National Capital Region: Towards Evolving a Strategy and Action Programme Collaboration/s: Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) Project Director/ Project Coordinator: Dr. Abhay Kumar The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT), Mumbai awarded IHD a research project entitled “Work and

Livelihoods of the Poor in the National Capital Region (NCR)”. The project intended to develop

a strategy to enhance the livelihood options of the poor in the NCR, in collaboration with the

government and other key stakeholders, by way of an evidence-based research and advocacy

initiative.

The core objectives of the project were: a) to provide support to a large section of the poor and

vulnerable, particularly migrants, to help them enhance their income and economic security in

the NCR through the livelihood promotion activities and b) to provide policy support to

strengthen the livelihood linkages required to enhance the work and livelihood opportunities of

the poor in the NCR, in collaboration with the government and some non-government

organizations (NGOs).

In the first phase of the project, the aim was to get a theoretical understanding of theNCR

region, its demographics, poverty, livelihood activities of the poor in the NCR, the pattern of

migration, and emerging livelihood sectors in the economy. This waslargely based on secondary

data and literature.The second phase of the study was largely empirical and included six

different field surveys across the NCR namely, a Listing Survey (20,244 households), Household

Survey (3073 households), four sub-sector studies (each 300 household surveys and FGDs) on

informal workers in solid waste management, transport, construction and female home based

workers.

Overall, the project delivered both research reports and policy and strategy documents to

facilitate the policy advocacy initiatives for the urban poor in the NCR. The study found that the

illiterate, low skilled poor manual workers and migrant workers are not able to adjust to the

changing policy paradigm and have been shifting out of the core and settling to the suburban

part where as NCT Delhi the core of NCR absorbs more educated and skilled workers. Under

this background, a major policy recommendation has been on the education and skill

development of both workers and their children to make their livelihood more inclusive and

sustainable in the changing policy paradigm.

www.ihdindia.org Overall, the project delivered the following research study reports and policy and strategy

documents.

Research Outputs Based on Secondary Data, Literatures and Consultation

• Demographic, Social and Economic Profile of National Capital Region

• The Social, Occupational and Locational Characteristics of poverty in National Capital

Region

• Urbanization, Migration, Poverty and Informalization in National Capital Region: A

Review Paper

• Socio-Economic and Demographic Characteristics of National Capital Region: A

Statistical Profile

• Mapping of Active Civil Society Organisations in National Capital Region

• Report on the regional consultation of Civil Society Organisations on Work and

Livelihoods of the Poor in the National Capital Region

Research Outputs Based on Primary Data

• Livelihood Profile and Deprivations of the Urban Poor in the National Capital Region

• Work and Livelihoods of the Female Home Based Workers

• Work and Livelihoods of the Informal Workers in Solid Waste Management

• Work and Livelihoods of the Informal Workers in Transport Sector: A Study of Cycle

Rickshaw Pullers, Theli Rickshaw Pullers and Auto Rickshaw Drivers

• Work and Livelihoods of the Informal Workers in Construction Workers: Issues and

Challenges

• Livelihoods of the Poor and Vulnerable in NCR: The Final Synthesis Report

Advocacy and Networking Outputs

• Strategy Paper on Livelihood Promotion in NCR

• A Strategy Paper on Advocacy and Networking for Livelihood Promotion in the NCR

www.ihdindia.org • Project Design Templates for Field Monitoring of Livelihood Promotion Interventions

Policy Briefs

• Housing and Living Conditions in Low-Income Settlements in NCR: Insights and Policy

Challenges

• Work and Livelihood of the Autorickshaw Drivers: The Way Forward

• Work and Livelihood of the Home Based Workers: The Way Forward

• Work and Livelihood of the Informal Workers in the Solid Waste Management: The Way

Forward

• Work and Livelihoods of the Cycle and Theli Rickshaw Pullers: The Way Forward

• Work and Livelihoods of the Informal Workers in Construction Sector: The Way

Forward

• Level of Education among Urban Poor in NCR: Issues and Challenges for Livelihood

Promotion

• Migration Pattern and its Implications for Livelihoods in NCR: Insights and Policy

Challenges

• Health Aspects of the Urban Poor: Insights from the NCR

• Work and Livelihoods of the Poor in NCR: Profile and Issues of Sustainability