Papers by Purushottam Aggarwal
Sage Publications, 2020
The Indian society is one of the most unequal societies of the world and divided into different s... more The Indian society is one of the most unequal societies of the world and divided into different social hierarchies of caste, class, religion, etc. Caste is a determinant of power, economic inequality, poverty and discrimination in contemporary India. When it comes to women, they face the dual burden of discrimination, first gender based and, second, caste based. The practice of discrimination persists between Dalit/tribal and upper-class women, but still, Dalit women are trying to come out of this unequal treatment. Hence, this study investigates the magnitude of discrimination among women workers in terms of the social hierarchy and relative factors responsible for workforce discrimination. Furthermore, this study examines the extent of wage differential between Dalit/tribal and upper-class women workers.
Routledge, 2024
The caesarean section (C-section) has become widely accepted as a safe intervention to minimize m... more The caesarean section (C-section) has become widely accepted as a safe intervention to minimize maternal delivery risk and reduce maternal and newborn mortality, and the share of C-section delivery in total delivery is increasing over time. Many studies assess the association of C-section with out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE). The present study attempts to measure the influence of change in place of residence on OOPE for normal/caesarean section delivery by place of hospitalization and type of healthcare facilities using National Sample Survey Organization 75th round data. The number of caesarean births is lower in public hospitals and the cost of delivery is high in private facilities. Distance of hospitalization causes catastrophic OOPE on maternal delivery, and the probability of caesarean delivery has also increased.
Emerald, 2024
Purpose-Since the post-liberalization era, a noticeable structural change and transition in emplo... more Purpose-Since the post-liberalization era, a noticeable structural change and transition in employment have unfolded within the Indian economy. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to understand employment transition and elucidate the evolving dynamics of rural economies and employment patterns from agriculture to more productive non-agricultural sectors. Additionally, the study investigates the underlying causes of socioeconomic disparities and their repercussions on employment trends. Design/methodology/approach-To address the aforementioned issues, this study utilised secondary data from labour surveys conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation spanning from 2004-05 to 2023. Initially, the study computed the magnitude of employment in both agriculture and non-agriculture sectors. Subsequently, the distribution of non-agricultural labour across various socioeconomic characteristics was estimated. Furthermore, a logistic regression model was employed to evaluate the impact of socioeconomic factors on employment choices. Finally, Fairlie's decomposition model was applied to elucidate workers' decisions to engage in non-agricultural sectors. Findings-The study reveals a significant rise in rural non-agricultural employment, from 98.4 m in 2004-05 to 193.3 m in 2023, indicating changing job preferences. Notably, the construction and trade sectors emerge as significant drivers of this trend. However, self-employment and casual labour persist, highlighting job vulnerability. Additionally, women and marginalised individuals with low levels of education and socioeconomic status lag behind in non-agricultural employment. Originality/value-This study makes a significant contribution by offering a thorough analysis of the employment transition from agriculture to non-agriculture over a span of two decades. It provides valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of employment trends.
SAGE, 2024
This study is an attempt to record the extent of untouchability practices prevalent in India as w... more This study is an attempt to record the extent of untouchability practices prevalent in India as well as to examine the role of the media such as TV, newspaper and radio, as a source of communication which has brought about shift in the practice of caste-based untouchability. For addressing the abovementioned issues, the study has used the data of India Human Development Survey-II conducted in 2011-2012 by the University of Maryland and the National Council of Applied Economic Research, New Delhi. The findings of the study reveal that 27% of households practise untouchability in contemporary India. However, the households watching TV (25.6%) practise less untouchability than those reading newspapers (26.1%) and listening to the radio (29.6%). The culturally disadvantaged groups are excluded from the decision-making process of the media that communicates the untouchability practices with society. Hence, it is visible from the findings that the role of media is beyond the expectation related to controlling the caste-based untouchability practices.
Inderscience , 2024
This study examines the factors driving the growth of private coaching institutes in India and th... more This study examines the factors driving the growth of private coaching institutes in India and their impact on educational equity and accessibility. Using data from the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO), specifically the 75th round of 20172018. The result indicates that private coaching is more prevalent among students from urban areas, affluent households, and upper-caste families. However, coaching expenses, comprising 15.2% of total educational expenses, pose a significant financial burden on students in rural areas. The study underscores the importance for policymakers, educators, and families to address the challenge of accessing educational coaching and managing the financial strain on students and their households. Furthermore, it suggests that the proliferation of private coaching centres may worsen existing disparities in educational opportunities and perpetuate cycles of inequality.
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This study aims to estimate the distribution of time spent on unpaid activities in India, with a ... more This study aims to estimate the distribution of time spent on unpaid activities in India, with a focus on understanding the gendered nature of this work. The study seeks to contribute to the existing literature by providing empirical insights into the time spent on unpaid domestic activities by daughters and daughters-in-law, and by identifying the sociocultural and economic factors that contribute to this work. To achieve this objective, the study employs data from the Time Use Survey (TUS) conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in India from January to December 2019. The study uses a two-phase analysis to estimate the time spent on unpaid activities by daughters and daughters-in-law. In the first phase, the study
Women's heroic image has been created in politics of India either by themselves or their counterp... more Women's heroic image has been created in politics of India either by themselves or their counterparts. Whatever be the reason behind this image making or terminology used for women politicians, the matter is its effect on politics. The role of women in Indian politics can be analyzed through their participation and contribution in the development of our country. Then they are considered weaker than men because we have a patriarchal society, where women cannot get any credit. This study deals with the emergence of women in politics and proves their decision making power in favour of social welfare. Further, it explains the role of patriarchy in power dominance where respect and honour both create a boundary for women. Since the women started intervening in politics, initially they had to work within the borders because they faced challenges not from their male counterparts but also female colleagues. So the term came into existence where they can relate themselves with their female counterpart. In a patriarchal society, Amma (mother), Behen (sister) or Didi (elder sister) is the most respectful nomenclature. Therefore, these terminologies are helpful to encourage women in politics which is lagging in Bihar. This can be analyzed through the role of women in panchayat elections where men are ruling in their name.
Musahar is an extremely backward community in Bihar. Since 2007, the Nitish Kumar-led government ... more Musahar is an extremely backward community in Bihar. Since 2007, the Nitish Kumar-led government has announced the Mahadalit Vikas Mission for the development of the marginalized among Dalits. The study addressed the research question whether the Mahadalit Vikas Mission has been able to provide economic development as well as the removal of the discriminatory practices against the Dalits in Bihar. Therefore, the study aims to review the Mahadalit Vikas Mission in terms of providing social and economic support to the extremely backward communities of Bihar. The results reveal that of the multiple schemes introduced under the vision of Mahadalit Vikas Mission, only some have proved to be useful for the Musahars; moreover, no scheme was reported to have succeeded in removing the discrimination based on caste. Majority of the advantages of the scheme did not reach the Musahars.
The purpose of the study is to examine the shifting perceptions of the Naxal movement. The moveme... more The purpose of the study is to examine the shifting perceptions of the Naxal movement. The movement, which was extremely violent in nature, started against the oppression of the upper caste/class, attracted the young people, but as soon as they realized its impact, they opted towards the pro-state non-violent form of movement. In India, the violence/conflicts are analysed through the caste and class struggles, where the upper caste members oppress the lower caste group. Due to caste hegemony, the means of production are also in the hands of the upper castes, which help them to accumulate political and economic power too. In the continuous accumulation of power, the lower castes became more vulnerable and took the help of ideologies of armed struggle to resist their oppressed condition. But this form of resistance movement initiated in the Mushahri did not last long and, later on, people of this movement shifted towards either the state or pro-state form of movement. The data were gathered in Mushahri, Bihar from October 2015 to December 2016 from the people who had participated in the first phase of the Naxal movement through semi-structured interviews. The results of the interviews are linked with the existing theoretical frameworks of violence as both oppression and resistance. The study finds that the people who participated in the movement started shifting or deviating from the movement because they felt that the focus on caste oppression had become secondary and the resistance of violence left spread. In this violence and counter-violence, it is the poor who suffered a lot.
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK, 2019
This article presents an overview of the Indian caste system and its role in perpetrating social ... more This article presents an overview of the Indian caste system and its role in perpetrating social violence in contemporary India. Historically, oppression of the lower castes by upper castes was legitimised by civil society. This gave birth to strong resistance movements such as the Naxalbari movement. The article explores the emergence of counter violence against caste oppression as voices of dissent.
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Papers by Purushottam Aggarwal
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