Journal Press India^®

We are pleased to present yet another issue of PRAGATI to our readers where we have focused on a number of pertinent issues related to the Indian economy. Ten papers have been shortlisted for publication in this issue. The range of topics is wide varying from economy-wide studies to micro-studies. Vibhuti Patel’s paper on ‘Gender Responsive Budgets in India,’ is unique because it brings a perspective that has hardly been touched. The gender budget initiative has opened new vistas of research and analysis of public expenditure in the country and opened serious methodological debates for carrying out such analysis. In the paper by Navin Nitin, the decomposition of growth in the Indian economy is discussed. Using a Solow Growth model, he shows that growth in Total Factor Productivity has led to the recent spectacular performance of the India economy. This paper calls for a discussion on whether TFP growth is the cause or consequence of growth of the Indian economy.

The paper on Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY), by Madhubala Swami, argues how the plan was initiated by the Indian Government in 1997-98 and acted as an initiative to create self-employment opportunities to alleviate urban poverty. The study concludes that, ‘the scheme can do well if an ecosystem is created by establishing institutional linkages for training, marketing and technical support for the SHGs combined with a fool proof supervisory framework to monitor the scheme’. While commenting on ‘Inter-State Income Inequality in India’, the authors Suhas Roy and Swapan Kumar Roy, conclude that the rural-urban gap in terms of income inequality also does not follow any definite pattern.

Another interesting paper by Arjun Pangannavar presents a different perspective on inflation. In his paper ‘Manipulation-Theory of Inflation’, he states that while it is believed that inflation is the outcome of imbalance between demand and supply force, but forces behind them, the manipulators, also play crucial role in creation of this economic situation. This paper carries a unique perspective, although there is a need to refine the methods of measurement in further research. Pallavi Aggrawal while discussing the ‘Real Impact Evaluation of Micro Finance on Urban Women in India’ concludes, that most urban women in the association experienced increased income and educational level, and, therefore improved their economic status and social conditions after receiving the loans from NGOs. However, there is a need to examine the problems also. The paper, ‘Privatization and Growth of Insurance Industry in India’ by S H Ashraf and Abullah Faiz, tries to narrate the story of the development and growth of the insurance sector during the first decade after the privatisation of the sector. Both private companies and public sector companies are growing and thus the industry. It concludes that aggressive marketing strategy, detariffication and active role of IRDA lead to the growth of the industry.

            The section on case studies presents three interesting and diverse case studies. Pulla Rao’s study on the, ‘Socio-economic status of Scheduled Tribes in Andhra Pradesh,’ concludes that about 58 percent of the households are indebted in the range of Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000 and 67 percent depends on money lenders for their credit source. About 96 percent of the households expressed that they are not getting sufficient income for livelihood. While the analysis is simplistic, the paper deserves mention as being a good micro-study. N. Mani’s paper on socio-economic conditions and political status of scavengers in Erode Municipal Corporation makes the plea that the real freedom of the scavenging community depends on the collective action of every responsible citizen in India. Scavenging should not continue a particulars caste's job and necessary steps should be taken to convert the job as a common job. This work should be modernized and salaries and allowances should be increased. Surely, this paper touches upon a very vital social problem. The paper by Chandan Bandyopadhyay, on ‘Empowerment of Women in Participating Self-Help Group in Bardhaman District of West Bengal’ concludes that women became empowered by participating in SHG in Bardhaman district of West Bengal.

I sincerely hope that this issue of PRAGATI makes an interesting reading for a variety of readers. I am glad to state that in a short period of time, the journal has been able to attract papers from all over the country. Innovative studies like ‘Gender Responsive Budgets’ and ‘Manipulation-Theory of Inflation’ are welcome breaks, although we still need to debate and refine the methodologies used. Micro-studies are difficult to carry out and themes like status of ‘scavengers’ and ‘Scheduled Tribes’ are of great social relevance.

Prof. K. V. Bhanu Murthy

Editor-in-chief