Narayan Chandra Nayak

A Development Delivery Institution for the Tribal Communities: Experience of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in India

This article examines the varied impacts of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) as a development delivery institution for the tribal communities vis-a-vis other social groups across the Indian States, using the framework of new institutional economics. A number of State-specific, socio-economic institutional factors seem to be responsible for these variations. The article therefore suggests institutional reforms and convergence of the development initiatives of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs with the NREGS in order to realise the optimal potential of the scheme, and, in particular, to ensure greater livelihood opportunities for these marginalised groups and their entitlement to productive resources with greater socio-economic and political empowerment.

Determinants of people's participation: a study of rural West Bengal, India

This article considers the determinants of peoples participation in local level decision-making spaces in rural West Bengal, India. It defines participation from the perspectives of attending meetings, raising issues, making complaints, and making contributions. The results from a sampled household survey in East Midnapore district of West Bengal indicate that better awareness, increase in land holdings, organisational membership, and political affiliation tend to improve participation. Households showing livelihood dependency and entitlement, and belonging to socially and economically weaker sections are more likely to participate. However, the results point towards the possibility of ‘elite capture’ and ‘clientelism’ in participatory spaces.

Understanding the Role of Participation in Public Service Delivery: Evidences from Rural West Bengal, India

The present study, using household level data of East Midnapore district of West Bengal, India, examines the role of people’s participation in public service delivery. It considers four dimensions of participation namely attending meetings, raising voice, lodging complaints, and making contributions. The study confirms the role of participation in public service delivery. Apart from participation, households’ socioeconomic and political positions also exert significant impacts. There is, however, likelihood of “elite capture” and “clientelism” in the delivery of public services. Effective service delivery presupposes that while attending meetings, people must raise their voice and make contributions.

Trends and forecasting of employment intensity of growth in India

In the labour surplus Indian economy, growth must ensure high employment. In order to examine how employment has evolved over time with output, this study analyses the trends of employment intensity of growth in India at the aggregate and across broad sectors for the period 1961–2004 and forecasts the same for the future applying the Box-Jenkins ARIMA model. The results indicate that India has been experiencing jobless growth since the 1990s primarily due to the failure of manufacturing and services. The forecasting results reveal possible improvement in employment elasticity of secondary sector, whereas tertiary sector would continue to remain a concern. The dependence on primary sector would continue to rise, leading to its negative labour productivity.

Does Infrastructure Affect Human Development? Evidences from Odisha, India

In pursuit of achieving and maintaining high human development, infrastructure is said to play a critical role. The present paper examines the spatial disparities in infrastructural facilities and human development across 30 districts of Odisha, and consequently, tries to find out the impact of infrastructure on human development in the state. The study records significant regional disparities in the level of human development as well as infrastructural development in Odisha. It applies panel data model to examine the effects of composite infrastructure index and its individual components on human development and its three dimensions. The study establishes close linkage between infrastructure and human development. Telecommunication, postal services, village electricity, banking, school, PTR and drinking water facilities play significant roles in the process of attaining high level of human development. The less developed districts of Odisha are primarily dominated by tribal population. In order to achieve high and sustained human development, the state needs to prioritize its efforts towards infrastructure creation for these regions.

Macroeconomic Determinants of Employment Intensity of Growth in India

Despite India’s resurgent growth over the past years, the country seems to have failed miserably on the employment front. The employment content of economic growth—the employment intensity of growth—is on the decline. The objective of the present study is to identify the macroeconomic determinants which influence the employment intensity of growth in India. The study covers data for the period 1993–94 to 2009–10 across 15 major Indian states and applies a panel data model to find out these determinants. The results tend to suggest that labour supply, economic structure, price instability and human capital are major determining factors. Pro-employment growth in India may require measures like diversification of economic activities towards labour-intensive sectors, price stability, skill-based education and adoption of labour-intensive technology. JEL Classification: J21, J23

Economic Freedom and Employment in India

The recent move of Indian policymakers towards a more open economy with less government control is said to have brought about considerable changes in the policy structure with respect to the size of the government—expenditures, taxes and enterprises—legal structure and security of property rights, regulation of labour and business. Economic freedom, which encompasses these indicators, may have a potential impact on, and may facilitate better integration of, labour market outcomes such as labour quality and creating employment opportunities in India. In a federal system like India’s, economic and political institutions such as business regulation, taxation and government spending differ significantly across states. This study, considering 20 major Indian states, tests the hypothesis that greater economic freedom may lead to higher rates of employment for these states. The results indicate that economic freedom is likely to have a favourable impact on employment. The most important dimensions are strong rule of law and flexible regulations governing credit, labour and product markets. The rise in income per capita is a critical factor in this set-up. JEL Classification: O40, E24