Economic Reforms and Social Disadvantage

Contents: Preface. 1. Economic reforms and poverty. 2. The millennium development goal for poverty eradication. 3. Poverty and inequality. 4. Migration of labour. 5. Labour and migration. Bibliography.

"Today, India is home to roughly one-third of the entire poor population in the world. A higher proportion of its population living on less than $2 per day which is less than sub-Saharan Africa, the poorest region of the world. More than 260 million people in India are deprived of 2400 calories, out of which 75% are from rural India. World Bank\'s latest estimation says that there are 456 million people (out of 1.4 billion) or about 42% of the population living below the new international poverty line of $1.25 per day.

As there is sharp decline in the share of agriculture in total employment; the scope for absorbing substantial additional labour force in agriculture appears limited. Casualisation of work and casual nature of employment is increasing. While women constitute 31.56% of the total workforce, they constitute 60.89% of the marginal workers. Social exclusion is a fundamental characteristic of chronically hungry.

This book tries to study the scenario which emerged after the economic reforms in India and the social backwardness removal of poor population."