Insights
Training on WASH governance: Lessons from the field
September 9, 2018
Training and capacity building have long been established as critical components of global water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) policies, strategies, and programs. To this effect, expanding capacity building support for WASH in developing countries is one of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Right to Health - Need for Broader Alliances
September 3, 2018
Last year we heard the tragic news of two children losing their lives to dengue in two separate incidents in two plush hospitals in Delhi and Gurugram. The families, in addition to the pain of loss of their loved ones, also had to bear the excessive financial strain at the hands of the specific private hospitals.
Need for Decentralised Planning for Better Outcomes
August 30, 2018
India’s total public spending in terms of GDP amounts to around 27 percent. The public money is being utilised by Union, State and local governments together through implementation of schemes and programmes or spending by the autonomous/semi-autonomous institutions.
How Many Indians Should Pay Income Tax (But are not Paying)
August 29, 2018
It is rather common to hear or read in popular media that only 1% of Indian population pays income tax. The Economic Survey 2017-18, corrects this misinformation and puts the number of income tax payers at 5.9 crore people or 4.5% of total population. While certainly higher than the earlier claim of 1%, the number 4.5% is still very small; and it seems like the remaining 95% of Indians are not paying income tax.
Open Data Policy of the Government of India: What has it achieved?
August 22, 2018
It is widely acknowledged that sharing of data and relevant information in public domain is a major step towards enhancing transparency and accountability in governance. However, in the Indian context, both the availability of data and the way such data is shared have had notorious reputations.
School Bags: A Weighty Issue?
August 16, 2018
Carrying a schoolbag is a routine for most of the children. However, the growing weight of school bag and its effect on health of the children is a serious concern for every parent. In 2016, a survey conducted by Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) under its Healthcare Committee in ten Indian cities has found that 68 percent of school children under the age of 13 years across India are leading to serious spinal damage and irreversible back problems.
The Indian Employment-Unemployment Surveys: Why Should it Continue?
August 13, 2018
In the context of the recent debates and discourse on the current level of joblessness of the Indian economy, it is imperative to highlight that the situation is in fact a result of discontinuing the employment-unemployment surveys (EUS) conducted by the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) as well as the Annual Employment-unemployment surveys conducted by the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MOLE).
Think Tanks and Communications in the Digital Age
August 9, 2018
Across the globe, think tanks play an important role in shaping policy discourse. They are often referred to as an opinion creator and a source of in-depth policy analysis. The challenges faced by think tanks include, among others, effective dissemination of their work/research findings to a highly segmented audience using a variety of mediums and tools.
Government’s Salary Budget: A Misplaced Focus
August 6, 2018
One of the most contentious issues in public finance in India is the government’s expenditure on salaries of its employees. Often, we hear experts point out how salaries eat up bulk of the government’s budget, leaving little resources for other interventions.
How Targeting of Shell Companies Can Be Strengthened
August 3, 2018
To curb illicit finance, it is crucial to understand the tools, vehicles and arrangements that facilitate it. Illicit finance is generated through tax abuse (avoidance, dodging and evasion) by multinational companies and elites, crime, corruption, trade manipulation and abusive transfer pricing methods. Its cross-border flow is known as illicit financial flows.
The Interrupted Gender
August 3, 2018
In 1975, sociologists Don Zimmerman and Candace West studied a total of 31 conversations and found that in the 11 conversations between men and women, women were interrupted by men in 10. All conversations were recorded in public spaces and hence were of informal nature.
Digital Dialogue: Intervention to negotiate citizen's power over digital technology
August 1, 2018
Digital ‘Information Technology’ (IT) is projected by policy makers as a “fool proof” mechanism for ensuring inclusion of eligible beneficiaries and transparency in implementation of public programmes. With the launch of the Digital India campaign, the State seems to be investing increasing attention and financial resources towards laying down a digital architecture for service delivery on a mission mode apparently for the more effective implementation of the latter.
Recent OP-Blogs
- In Bihar, low registration for a govt scheme keeps pregnant women from accessing healthcare
- What does the Interim Budget Say about Government Expenditure Priority?
- Empowering agriculture: Prioritising farmers and addressing sector challenges
- Need for SDG-linked outcome budgeting in India: A case of Assam
- How much did the Interim Budget push for India’s Climate Action?
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