INDIA’S SOCIAL SECTOR AND MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS: Issues, Challenges and Policy Measures

A cursory look on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) makes it evident that the first six goals fall under the broad purview of social sector development which puts concerted efforts towards poverty alleviation and hunger reduction (Goal 1), universalization of primary education (Goal 2), women empowerment (Goal 3) and health sector development (Goal 4, 5 and 6). Keeping in view that less than three years remaining to reach the MDG-deadline of 2015, this book makes an attempt to view the recent dynamics of India’s social sector from ‘MDG-lens’ and focuses on the strategies adopted so far to address poverty, food security, primary education, women empowerment and primary health care. Exploring the emerging issues and challenges of social sector, the author has suggested some comprehensive measures which will be instrumental in future policy-formulation to ensure a sustainable growth in social sector and intensifying the country’s efforts towards its MDG-commitments. This book is expected to serve as a quality reference for social science scholars and development planners.

Contents

1. Viewing India’s Social Sector from MDG Lens: Some Reality Bites

2. Rural Poverty: Jeopardizing India’s Effort towards MDG Commitments

3. Scarcity in the State of Surplus: Exploring the ‘Starving’ India

4. The Challenge of Educating India: The Task Ahead

5. Empowering Women in India: An Unfinished Agenda

6. Making India ‘Healthy’: Still a Distant Dream