Bimal Kishore Sahoo

Fate of coliforms and pathogenic parasite in four full-scale sewage treatment systems in India

The occurrence and removal of fecal indicators (total coliforms (TC), fecal coliforms (FC), fecal streptococci (FS)) and pathogens (helminthes eggs) were studied in various municipal wastewater treatment processes (UASB + FPU, ASP, EA, WSP). The reductions in TC and FC concentrations were usually between 2.0 and 2.5 log units in up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor incorporated with final polishing unit (UASB + FPU). Almost similar reduction was observed in activated sludge process system (ASP) and waste stabilization ponds system (WSP), while it was log 3.0 in extended aeration system (EA). UASB + FPU and WSP systems were observed more efficient to reduce helminthes eggs at almost 100%, whereas only 97% removal was observed in case of ASP and EA system. In addition to monitoring of indicator organisms, turbidity, suspended solids (SS), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) were used as indirect measure of the potential presence of microorganisms. Interrelationship of BOD, SS, and turbidity with fecal indicator bacteria concentration in influent and effluent manifest that improvement of the microbiological quality of wastewater is strongly linked to the removal of BOD and SS.

Ownership, size, and efficiency: evidence from software companies in India

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the trends in relative efficiency of software companies in India during 1999-2008 by applying input-oriented data envelopment analysis (DEA) model. Based upon the PROWESS Database of Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the efficiencies were estimated for the Indian, multinational and group companies. Also, relationship between efficiency and size is examined. Design/methodology/approach – The study applied DEA to measure relative efficiencies of software companies and two different DEA models, CCR and BCC, were applied to evaluate the relative efficiency of the sample software companies in India. Comparisons of efficiency scores based on ownership were carried out by applying ANOVA and t-statistics. Findings – The mean overall technical efficiency (OTE) of the software industry in India during 1999-2008 was low at 0.477. The mean pure technical efficiency for the industry for the study period was found to be 0.654 suggesting that software firms, o...

Determinants of participation in self-help-groups (SHG) and its impact on women empowerment

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to gain meaningful insights into a microfinance programme in two different agro-ecological settings in India. The study, using primary survey data, attempts to examine individual, household and environmental characteristics that determine participation in a self-help group (SHG)–bank linkage programme in Odisha. Design/methodology/approach - Primary data are collected by a stratified random sampling method. The sample size is 300 households and information is collected by canvassing a pre-designed schedule to women through door-to-door in-depth interviews. In addition, focus group discussions have been conducted to get qualitative information. A probit binary model is applied to examine the factors determining participation in a SHG–bank linkage programme. A composite index of women empowerment is computed taking three dimensions: autonomy, economic empowerment and the gender relationship. Further, ordinary least square multiple regression and treatment effect evaluation by propensity score matching is carried out to study the impact of participation on women empowerment. Findings - The study finds that the programme has by-passed the poorest of the poor. It is observed, however, that participation in microfinance has a positive and significant impact on women empowerment. Research limitations/implications - Given the research methodology adopted in this study, one concern is whether the results generalise. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further. Practical implications - To improve status of women particularly in developing and underdeveloped regions, microfinance can act as a catalyst. Social implications - Microfinance in the form of SHG–bank linkage should be promoted, particularly for those social groups and religious communities where women are discriminated. Their participation in SHG–bank linkage programme will improve their social status through empowerment. Originality/value - This study illustrates how microfinance can improve the status of women.

Economic Growth, Globalisation and Human Capital: Empirical Evidence from India

This paper examines the contribution of human and physical forms of capital on the economic growth of India. The study was primarily undertaken not only because research on this issue has important policy implications but also because there are not many studies on India which conclusively point towards the relative importance of both forms of capital in the Indian growth trajectory. The impact of physical and human capital on real gross domestic product (GDP) of India is estimated with a log-linear model; where GDP per capita as dependent and per-labour physical capital (PC) and per-labour human capital (HC) in conjunction with the dummy variables, D and D1 for policy reform and political instability, respectively, as independent variables for the reference period 1975-76 to 2004-05. Further, switching regression is used to capture the impact of structural changes arising out of the initiation of the policy of openness and globalisation after 1990. The results, robust in nature, suggest that post-liberalisation growth in India owes more to the human capital than to physical capital.

Socio-Economic Determinants of Food Security in India: A Quantile Regression Analysis

This study examines determinants of food security in India at the household level using National Sample Survey (NSS) data. Determinants are categorised into two groups (1) social and (2) economic. Quantile regression (QR) has applied to identify intra-distributional effects; Ordinary least square for full distribution. By using calorie gap as a proxy of food security, major findings revealed the existence of Intra- and inter-disparity effect on food security of castes and religions. Male-headed household and household without regular salary are more food insecure compared to female-headed and household with regular salary respectively. Among the economic determinants, food diversification from cereals and substitute to non-cereal food items is adversely affecting food security. Households having ration card are more food secure; reflecting Public Distribution System (PDS) is successful to enhance household food security. Therefore, shifting to direct cash-transfer from PDS is not a desirable policy option for India.

Segmentation and Job Mobility in the Indian Labour Market

The extent of mobility of the workers among different segments of a labour market plays a crucial role in the overall levels of poverty and inequality in the economy. Theoretical conceptualizations of the degree of mobility in the labour market have broadly been polarized into a segmented vs. integrated labour market debate. Within the segmented model frame-work the informal economy is considered an unfavorable sector and the informal workers queuing for better jobs in the formal economy. This view is countered by the legalist school who view the choice to be informal to be voluntary. Due to the importance of labour mobility equitable growth and poverty reduction and its significance in understanding the nature of the labour market, the present study analysis the patterns and consequences of labour mobility in India using the novel IHDS panel data. Our study finds significant mobility across sectors in the economy. We also find certain individual attributes being associated with movement into certain labour market segments. Finally, our study finds evidence of significant earnings differentials across paid work statuses. The study finds evidence of segmentation with regard to regular (or formal) vis-a-vis casual (or informal) wage employment. We also notice large-scale distress driven movements of works, especially from OAW and cultivation work into casual work. In contrast we also notice a large number of small businesses which have seen growth over the period. Given the results of our study suitable policy recommendations have been made.

Informality in Non-Cultivation Labour Market in India

Even though informality, work quality and worker well-being are closely knit issues, there is a dearth of studies which explore the issue of informality as deficiency of workers’ well-being or poor job-quality. Our study is an attempt to contribute to the literature in this direction. We propose an alternative method of defining informality by distinguishing workers based on multiple dimensions of work quality. Our empirical exercise is guided by the Capabilities framework as developed by Amartya Sen, Martha Nussbaum among others. The study uses National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) data for the three years 2004-05, 2009-10 and 2011-12. Cluster analysis is used to distinguish workers into good-quality and bad-quality jobs. We also apply the Fuzzy Set Theory to compare the work quality of formal and informal workers under different dimensions. Finally, the study investigates the trends in informality from the point of view of alternative definitions and investigate its characteristics. Our results indicate a significant overlap in the trends and determinants of informality under alternative definitions. Further, we find extensive work-based insecurity among the informally employed, especially among certain segments. The above results emphasize the need for urgent policy initiatives, especially towards certain sections of the population, to improve working conditions among the informal.

Labour Market Segmentation in the Indian Economy: An Investigation

The paper investigates the hypothesis of labour market segmentation in the Indian labour market along the lines of formality and informality using NSSO data over the period 2004-05 to 2011-12. The results of our analysis lend credible support in favour of the labour market segmentation hypothesis. The study finds significant wage gap between the formal and the informal sectors which cannot be explained entirely due to the differences in endowments of workers. However, the extent of discrimination is seen to decline over the study period. Further, decomposition analysis along the quantiles reveals the discrimination effect to be smaller in the lower quantiles compared to the higher quantiles. The results highlight the need for appropriate government measures to counter the above adverse trends.

Software Exports from India: An Econometric Exploration

The study has applied auto regressive distributed lag approach to examine determinants of software exports from India. The results suggest that in short- and long-run openness, human capital measured by higher education enrollment, and policy measures executed by the Government of India have played decisive role in endorsing software exports from India. In the short run, foreign direct investment and gross domestic product of high-income Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries helped to improve software exports from India. But real effective exchange rate has little impact on software exports. There is a stable long-run relationship among variables and supports the hypothesis of learning by exporting.