Suchergebnisse

AbstractIndia has not only maintained its top position among countries with the largest number of underweight adults but has also jumped to a higher position among countries with largest increase in the proportion of overweight people in the last three decades. More studies focus on double burden of malnutrition among women than on men. This study uses the quantile regression model to analyse the covariates associated with low and high body mass index (BMI) primarily among men aged 20–54 years during 2015–2016 in India. Occupations that involve more manual work help in maintaining a normal BMI along with better education, dietary diversity, and less sedentary lifestyle. A gendered comparison of men and their spouses highlights the differences in the association of covariates with BMI for men and women. The results from this study will provide insights for behavioural change at an individual level and inputs for public health intervention for addressing ill health concerns arising from underweight, overweight, or obesity.

Due to various supply and demand factors, households in developing countries may borrow from a single source or combination of sources—formal, informal and microfinance institutions (MFI). Who is accessing what types of loan sources? This study uses Indian Human Development Survey (2011–2012) to analyse, for the first time, households accessing microfinance loans either alone (8%) or in combination with other sources (13%). We find that the more developed southern states have the highest MFI-linked borrowers (39%). Despite the low overall share of MFI borrowing, microfinance supports inclusiveness with higher presence among the economically disadvantaged and socially underprivileged, such as female-headed, casual labour, Other Backward Classes and dalit households. Expectedly, the effects of social networking are more pronounced among MFI-linked borrowers.

This study has used data from the India Human Development Survey (IHDS), 2005–06, to study the factors influencing the body mass index (BMI) of women between 20 and 40 years of age in India. BMI captures both undernutrition and over-nutrition, and a quantile regression model has been used to capture the differential impact of the explanatory variables across the wide range of its values. Variables such as per capita income, per capita consumption expenditure and wealth are important in explaining variations in BMI, but the impact varies across the quantiles. The impact of per capita consumption expenditure is greater than that of per capita income, indicating the effectiveness with which resources are converted to consumption. Higher levels of wealth status affect BMI more across all the quantiles. Women's autonomy index shows a positive impact only for higher levels of the index value, but the magnitude is very small, while caste and religion play an important role even after controlling for economic status. JEL Classification: I12, J10, O18

This study provides additional insights into the nature of variations in heights of adult Indian women based on the demographic and health survey data for the year 2005–06. Though contiguous regions show similar mean heights, the gap between geographic regions reduce once socio-economic differences are accounted for. While teenage child birth, wealth differences and caste affiliations are some of the key variables that explain the gaps in mean heights, better educational attainment reduces these gaps and has also contributed to temporal gains in heights.

Foreword / R. Radhakrishna -- Preface / J.V. Meenakshi -- Introduction: Nutritional wellbeing of women and children in India / Swarna Sadasivam Vepa and Brinda Viswanathan -- Child underweight, agricultural land productivity and public provisioning / Swarna Sadasivam Vepa, Rohit Parasar and Brinda Viswanathan -- Child nutrition : linkages to agriculture / Anusha G. and Swarna Sadasivam Vepa -- Women's BMI in rural India : a comparison of farm and non-farm households / Brinda Viswanathan and Getsie Immanuel -- Nutrition opportunity index : an assessment of Indian children / Naline G. and Brinda Viswanathan -- Nutritional status of women across social groups / Swarna Sadasivam Vepa and Rohit Parasar -- Access to milk and milk products and child nutrition / Rohit Parasar and R.V. Bhavani -- Conclusions: Are we on the right path to achieve better nutrition? / Swarna Sadasivam Vepa.

AbstractThis study explores three-way linkage between weather, agricultural performance and internal migration in India at the state and district level using census data. The estimations are based on a two-stage least squares model using panel data. The elasticity of the inter-state out-migration rate with respect to per capita net state domestic agricultural product is − 0.775, indicating that a decline in the value of agricultural output related to weather variations results in an increase in out-migration rate. The crop-wise analysis shows that a 1 per cent decline in rice (wheat) yield leads to a nearly 2 per cent (1 per cent) increase in the rate of out-migration from a state. The district-level analysis shows larger magnitudes of estimated change in in-migration rates to relative changes in crop yields. However, the district-level analysis using two-period panel data constructed from a single census provides relatively less robust results compared to the state-level analysis owing to the associated data limitations.

"Although there is little consensus on the impact of trade liberalization on poverty and food security, it is nevertheless widely acknowledged that there is a need for governments to establish safety-nets to guard against any potentially harmful effects on the poor and vulnerable sections of society. Against this background, programs aimed at achieving food security and reducing poverty gain increased importance in the reform era. This study aims to evaluate several such programs that are currently in place in the country from the point of view of their impact, efficiency and financial sustainability. The purpose is to determine how these programs may be improved and propose appropriate policy options for reform, while also keeping in mind the new challenges that might lie ahead. Specifically, the study evaluates the Public Distribution System (PDS), Public Works Programs, and certain food-based direct intervention programs such as the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and Tamil Nadu Integrated Nutrition Program (TINP), with a view to suggest how they can be made more cost effectiveness and better targeted." -- From Author's Executive Summary ; Non-PR ; IFPRI1 ; MTID

This study is part of the ongoing research program on Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia (LANSA) funded by UK Aid from the Department for International Development, UK. The authors are consultants or regular staff of M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, India, one of the six partner institutions of LANSA. ; A recent global hunger index indicated a 12 percent decline in child underweight rates. This study attempts an empirical explanation of the factors that influence child underweight rates at the district level. Agricultural land productivity, share of women educated above the secondary level and participating in work, maternal, and child health seem to contribute to the reduction in child underweight. However government health and water supply facilities turn out to be ineffective.

A recent global hunger index indicated a 12 percent decline in child underweight rates. This study attempts an empirical explanation of the factors that influence child underweight rates at the district level. Agricultural land productivity, share of women educated above the secondary level and participating in work, maternal, and child health seem to contribute to the reduction in child underweight. However government health and water supply facilities turn out to be ineffective.