Understanding High Mortality among Private Facility Births in Rural Uttar Pradesh
In the last 15 years, there has been a large increase in facility births and a large decline in home births across India. In Uttar Pradesh, increases in facility birth have led to puzzlingly little decline in neonatal mortality. This paper investigates the role of private facilities in providing care at birth to rural residents of UP. Approximately one in five births of rural UP residents takes place in a private facility. These births experience a stunningly high neonatal mortality rate of 53 deaths per 1,000, compared to 32 among births in public facilities, and 40 among home births. This research seeks to understand why mortality rates are higher in private facilities than public facilities.
With Nikhil Srivastav, Lovey Pant, and Diane Coffey
With Nikhil Srivastav, Lovey Pant, and Diane Coffey
In the last 15 years, there has been a large increase in facility births and a large decline in home births across India. In Uttar Pradesh, increases in facility birth have led to puzzlingly little decline in neonatal mortality. This paper investigates the role of private facilities in providing care at birth to rural residents of UP. Approximately one in five births of rural UP residents takes place in a private facility. These births experience a stunningly high neonatal mortality rate of 53 deaths per 1,000, compared to 32 among births in public facilities, and 40 among home births. This research seeks to understand why mortality rates are higher in private facilities than public facilities.
Providing horizontal quota: the Bihar way
The case for reservations for women and transgender persons in State jobs and higher education
With Tejas Harad
The case for reservations for women and transgender persons in State jobs and higher education.
The truth about oxygen deaths during Covid second wave
Data shows the urgent need to establish mechanisms of accountability within the public health system.
With Sweta Dash, Krushna Ranaware
Data shows the urgent need to establish mechanisms of accountability within the public health system.
Birth Pangs: Universal Maternity Entitlements in India
In June 2018, a small survey of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana in two blocks of Jharkhand—Manika in Latehar district and Khunti in Khunti district—examined the status of the scheme and the problems faced by women at the time of pregnancy and delivery, such as health expenditure, inadequate nutrition, and loss of income. The findings call for better implementation of the scheme, as well as make a case for maternity benefits to be raised to a minimum of ₹6,000 per child for all pregnancies and not just for the first living child.
With Aarushi Kalra
In June 2018, a small survey of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana in two blocks of Jharkhand—Manika in Latehar district and Khunti in Khunti district—examined the status of the scheme and the problems faced by women at the time of pregnancy and delivery, such as health expenditure, inadequate nutrition, and loss of income. The findings call for better implementation of the scheme, as well as make a case for maternity benefits to be raised to a minimum of ₹6,000 per child for all pregnancies and not just for the first living child.
Our Essential Workers Need Essential Care
Through personal interviews of healthcare workers in India, the state of front-line workers in dealing with Covid-19 in the country is discussed. Lack of personal protective equipment and beds as well as the caste system that operates when it comes to doing cleaning work in the hospitals aggravates the already debilitating condition of healthcare personnel. Despite being the most important stakeholders of health in rural areas, the accredited social health activists are leading a life full of struggles.
With Nikhil Srivastav, and Payal Hathi
Through personal interviews of healthcare workers in India, the state of front-line workers in dealing with Covid-19 in the country is discussed. Lack of personal protective equipment and beds as well as the caste system that operates when it comes to doing cleaning work in the hospitals aggravates the already debilitating condition of healthcare personnel. Despite being the most important stakeholders of health in rural areas, the accredited social health activists are leading a life full of struggles.
क्या बिहारी जीवन, बिहारी मजदूरी से सस्ता है?
"आधिकारिक आंकड़ों के हिसाब से बिहार कोरोना इंडीकेटर (Corona Virus) लिस्ट में काफी नीचे है. लेकिन ध्यान रहे इसका विश्लेषण जल्दबाजी में करना गलत हो सकता है"
Coronavirus Outbreak: Bihar's rural poor at greater danger than rest of India; rations, cooked food need of the hour
The worst impact of coronavirus outbreak has been on the marginalised; those who are not only at risk of getting exposed to the virus but also have to bear the burden of lapses in state policy.
The worst impact of coronavirus outbreak has been on the marginalised; those who are not only at risk of getting exposed to the virus but also have to bear the burden of lapses in state policy.
Coronavirus outbreak has foregrounded India's inequalities; country must re-examine social order when pandemic abates
In transmission, the coronavirus seems to follow principles of equality, but in so doing exposes with absolute clarity the distinctions between privilege and the lack thereof.
In transmission, the coronavirus seems to follow principles of equality, but in so doing exposes with absolute clarity the distinctions between privilege and the lack thereof
For A Bahujan Economics
The idea behind this write-up is not to narrate the sad story of Dalit-Adivasi lives in academia but to strongly assert the desire we have to attain knowledge. The motive for penning these thoughts is to assert my Dalitness in the so-called merit world as imagined by the privileged in which we are constantly labeled as non-meritorious and also to appeal to Bahujan scholars to make use of their experience and available resources to become Bahujan economists. People are right, no one person can be held responsible for our condition and in this competitive world with scarce resources, the act of introspection is a virtual impossibility for the privileged. That is why the assertion of the oppressed seems like the only way to mark our presence in any field, be it the field of administration, academia or media.
Change is coming; we have come a long way, from being killed brutally for dreaming of education to now asserting our identity, claiming and reclaiming the academic space. Now the way ahead for us is to reach a stage and work for our community, take control of what impacts our lives and write our own story rather than becoming the subjects of study.
The idea behind this write-up is not to narrate the sad story of Dalit-Adivasi lives in academia but to strongly assert the desire we have to attain knowledge. The motive for penning these thoughts is to assert my Dalitness in the so-called merit world as imagined by the privileged in which we are constantly labeled as non-meritorious and also to appeal to Bahujan scholars to make use of their experience and available resources to become Bahujan economists. People are right, no one person can be held responsible for our condition and in this competitive world with scarce resources, the act of introspection is a virtual impossibility for the privileged. That is why the assertion of the oppressed seems like the only way to mark our presence in any field, be it the field of administration, academia or media.
Without maternity benefits
The government’s maternity benefit programme must be implemented better and comply with the Food Security Act.
The government’s maternity benefit programme must be implemented better and comply with the Food Security Act.
Even in Delhi, Basing PDS on Aadhaar is Denying Many the Right to Food
The New System Has Been Ineffective In Countering Issues With Implementation And Corruption, And Its Inflexibility Has Created Hurdles In Availing Benefits.
With Shagun
The New System Has Been Ineffective In Countering Issues With Implementation And Corruption, And Its Inflexibility Has Created Hurdles In Availing Benefits.