-The World Bank India has among the lowest female labor force participation rates (LFPRs) in the world. In particular, low female LFPR is a drag on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and an obstacle towards reaching a higher growth path. women are also an untapped source of managerial and entrepreneurial skills. By excluding women, the pool of such talent becomes shallower and growth suffers. If the overall lack of jobs, especially...

-The Indian Express Agriculture cannot survive without them. But they are invisible in the current conversation on the agrarian crisis An ex-company executive-cum-economist turns to the anchor during a discussion on the farmers’ agitation. “Overpopulation is destroying the farming activity. There are simply too many mouths to feed and the farms are shrinking. We must look to the urban areas for creating new jobs,” he says. The man at the local paan...

-Hindustan Times Till June, 2017, as many as 58 rape cases have been registered in Gurgaon. women said they feel unsafe commuting to and from work With a spurt in rape, molestation and other crimes against women in Gurgaon, the women no longer feel safe in the city. Incidents of eve teasing and harassment have also raised concern over women’s safety in the city. “I don’t prefer going out alone after 9 pm. This...

-The Indian Express Branding the farmer agitations ‘political’ betrays a lack of understanding There is no proof required that economists commenting on farmer issues have reached an affliction point. When the counsellor one seeks advice from is as callous as saying that the farmers’ agitation was political and justifies it by citing declining farmer suicides and rising farmer prosperity (‘Just why are farmers rioting?’ by Surjit Bhalla, IE, June 10), one can’t...

-The Indian Express The Indian Express visited 14 anganwadis, and found similar problems almost everywhere. New Delhi: A healthy meal and a stepping stone for school — anganwadis in the city have two key responsibilities. The Indian Express explores the problems at each front Five-year-old Naseem does not go to school, but that doesn’t mean he can stay at home after breakfast. As soon as the clock strikes 9 am, Naseem leaves home,...