Times of India
Irrational Economics
.March 2021
Mitali Nikore in the article titled, “ Small businesses, big challenges –How will female-owned micro-businesses recover from Covid-19?” highlighted the importance of MSMEs and their impact on jobcreation, specifically in regards to raising India’s low female labor participation. She focused on the immediate impact of Covid-19 and the losses generated from it. Moreover, the aspect of capital crisis and challenges faced by MSMEs were stressed upon, that underlined the disadvantage faced by women in the sector. Lastly,she emphasized the measures for better facilitation of growth of women-owned enterprises and further enlisted recommendations for the same
December 2020
Physical infrastructure can enhance inclusive growth, a 1% increase in stock of infrastructure, leads to a 1% increase in GDP (World Bank, 1994). Faster growing middle income countries tend to invest a higher proportion of GDP in infrastructure vs. peers (ADB, 2017). Yet, infrastructure is unevenly distributed. Nearly 1/3rd of the global population lacks access to basic drinking water, 2/3rd of rural habitations remains unconnected by road links, and nearly 52% of the world population is not connected to the internet. Infrastructure disruptions cost the developing world between $391-$647 billion per annum (World Bank, 2019). Tech-enabled utility infrastructure, better known as smart utilities, offer an innovative, cost-effective solution to bridge this supply gap.
April 2020
This blog captures the acute shortage of nurses in India due to COVID19. It's observed that India is far behind in providing nurses when compared to other countries battling COVID-19. Almost all the states in India have ratios as low as 0.3 - 0.6 nurses per 1000 population. The article suggests five measures to rescue India from the crutches of this shortage.
June 2019
This article provides an overall explanation of GRB and its approached of implementation across the world. It is observed that Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) has shown a slow, phased uptake across India over the last few decades. The article further analyses the need for increasing the allocation towards women-focused programs and recommends improved targeting, state-level gender budget ranking, and enhanced accountability in order to make enhance GRB efforts in India.
June 2019
This blog discusses the need to adopt advanced technology-based smart management measures to achieve smooth traffic flows in the city. This is because of increasing traffic and limits on the increase in road space due to rapid urbanization and lack of planning for urban infrastructure. The article recommends leveraging technology and implementing systems like Smart Traffic Light that adapt to the changing traffic density and provide necessary signals in real-time. A public-private partnership is the recommended mode of implementation for the system.
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March 2019
For years, we have heard promises from our administrators of better infrastructure – fewer potholes, fewer electricity outages, less traffic congestion, clean water. But around 27% of 1500 infrastructure projects are delayed and 20% of the projects have extended original cost estimates. This blog looks into the gaps in infrastructure financing in India and suggests three strategic areas, which should be prioritized for efficient deployment of the limited resources. The article emphasises an urgent need to re-prioritize infrastructure development as the backbone of economic growth.
January 2019
This article looks into the challenges in the implementation of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. These challenges include inefficient fund allocations, insufficient scheme monitoring and unbalanced expenditure patterns. Although the scheme was a long overdue intervention to give a boost to female education and gender equality, the focus of the scheme needs to be reviewed. This article outlines five key recommendations for strengthening the scheme’s implementation.
June 2018
This Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2016 doubles the paid maternity leave entitlement from 12 to 26 weeks for women employees and mandates provision of crèche facilities should be provided within a prescribed distance. While offering increased Maternity-Leave may have been a well-intentioned policy, it has created a gap between costs to a company for male and female employees, as well as reinforced traditional gender roles in child-care. The article makes the argument that Increased parity in parental leave is a necessity to prevent women from being disadvantaged and to ensure that there is a continued movement towards sharing the responsibilities of child-care.
November 2017
In the winter of 2017, North India’s pollution levels were amongst the worst in the world, with Delhi being beaten only by Haryana in terms of the worrisome AQI (Air Quality Index) levels. This blog explores various sources of air pollution in Delhi. Further, it lists out unique clean-tech solutions in four Asian metropolia like the smog-free towers in Beijing, Smart trees in Mexico, Smog-eating paint in Manila among others to combat air pollution. The article emphases the need to adopt such technologies along with a few domestic measure to combat pollution in the national capital.
September 2020
India’s annual investment on digital infrastructure stands at $22 billion. Despite this, pre-COVID-19 estimates show that India’s telecom sector faces a ~$167 billion investment gap between 2015-2040. This investment gap is likely to get affected due to unforeseen shift to the digital marketplace due to the pandemic. This article highlights the need to increase the investment in the digital infrastructure and analyses India’s readiness to transition to 5G and suggests a 4-point action plan to achieve the $1 trillion digital economy.
With Covid-19, comes the "Shadow Pandemic" How the surge of domestic violence gripped India's women in 2020
November 2020
Physical infrastructure can enhance inclusive growth, a 1% increase in stock of infrastructure, leads to a 1% increase in GDP (World Bank, 1994). Faster growing middle income countries tend to invest a higher proportion of GDP in infrastructure vs. peers (ADB, 2017). Yet, infrastructure is unevenly distributed. Nearly 1/3rd of the global population lacks access to basic drinking water, 2/3rd of rural habitations remains unconnected by road links, and nearly 52% of the world population is not connected to the internet. Infrastructure disruptions cost the developing world between $391-$647 billion per annum (World Bank, 2019). Tech-enabled utility infrastructure, better known as smart utilities, offer an innovative, cost-effective solution to bridge this supply gap.
April 2020
This blog captures the acute shortage of nurses in India due to COVID19. It's observed that India is far behind in providing nurses when compared to other countries battling COVID-19. Almost all the states in India have ratios as low as 0.3 - 0.6 nurses per 1000 population. The article suggests five measures to rescue India from the crutches of this shortage.
June 2019
This article provides an overall explanation of GRB and its approached of implementation across the world. It is observed that Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) has shown a slow, phased uptake across India over the last few decades. The article further analyses the need for increasing the allocation towards women-focused programs and recommends improved targeting, state-level gender budget ranking, and enhanced accountability in order to make enhance GRB efforts in India.
June 2019
This blog discusses the need to adopt advanced technology-based smart management measures to achieve smooth traffic flows in the city. This is because of increasing traffic and limits on the increase in road space due to rapid urbanization and lack of planning for urban infrastructure. The article recommends leveraging technology and implementing systems like Smart Traffic Light that adapt to the changing traffic density and provide necessary signals in real-time. A public-private partnership is the recommended mode of implementation for the system.
_PNG.png)
March 2019
For years, we have heard promises from our administrators of better infrastructure – fewer potholes, fewer electricity outages, less traffic congestion, clean water. But around 27% of 1500 infrastructure projects are delayed and 20% of the projects have extended original cost estimates. This blog looks into the gaps in infrastructure financing in India and suggests three strategic areas, which should be prioritized for efficient deployment of the limited resources. The article emphasises an urgent need to re-prioritize infrastructure development as the backbone of economic growth.
January 2019
This article looks into the challenges in the implementation of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. These challenges include inefficient fund allocations, insufficient scheme monitoring and unbalanced expenditure patterns. Although the scheme was a long overdue intervention to give a boost to female education and gender equality, the focus of the scheme needs to be reviewed. This article outlines five key recommendations for strengthening the scheme’s implementation.
June 2018
This Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2016 doubles the paid maternity leave entitlement from 12 to 26 weeks for women employees and mandates provision of crèche facilities should be provided within a prescribed distance. While offering increased Maternity-Leave may have been a well-intentioned policy, it has created a gap between costs to a company for male and female employees, as well as reinforced traditional gender roles in child-care. The article makes the argument that Increased parity in parental leave is a necessity to prevent women from being disadvantaged and to ensure that there is a continued movement towards sharing the responsibilities of child-care.
November 2017
In the winter of 2017, North India’s pollution levels were amongst the worst in the world, with Delhi being beaten only by Haryana in terms of the worrisome AQI (Air Quality Index) levels. This blog explores various sources of air pollution in Delhi. Further, it lists out unique clean-tech solutions in four Asian metropolia like the smog-free towers in Beijing, Smart trees in Mexico, Smog-eating paint in Manila among others to combat air pollution. The article emphases the need to adopt such technologies along with a few domestic measure to combat pollution in the national capital.
5 Smart Innovations to Bridge Infrastructure Supply Gaps
December 2020
The pandemic came in not just with the severe health consequences but also with various other mental, emotional and physical consequences especially for India's women. The rise of crimes against women especially domestic violence was at the peak between March-September. The article highlights the various measures and examples which we can take or even learn from other countries around the world. It also states the three pillars withstanding the long term strategy to combat the same.
Other Blogs
News 18. March 2021
The article titled, “ 85% Indian Working Women Don't Get Promotions or Raise They Deserve, How Can We Change That?” highlighted how gender differentiation defined a person’s ability to acquire a job and get a promotion. The article has focused on the survey from the reported study conducted by LinkedIn which surveyed around 10,000 people across the Asia Pacific region. The report stressed how the disparity prevails in the opportunities women are entitled to and how women are not rightly getting them. The article highlights the viewpoints of various women executives, and the founder of NA Mitali Nikore opined her views in regards to the change in the gender gap proliferating only if the work culture adopts a better approach. Lastly, the article stresses the need for equal opportunities and stronger diversity consisting of women for better facilitation of distinct work cultures.
Unseen reasons for the fall in women’s labour force participation in India
Financial Express , March 2021
Mitali Nikore in the article titled, “Unseen reasons for the fall in women’s labour force participation in India, ”highlighted the disproportionate figure in the women employment statistics of the labour force. Moreover, she stated how Covid-19 has exacerbated these trends. Following this, she laid down the contrasting factors in the percentile of the male and female employment opportunities. She further focused on the income effects and the aftermath of increasing household incomes. The presence of gender gaps between a male and a female receiving an education intermittently based on various social norms was stressed upon. Lastly, she emphasised the need for the government, the private sector, and the social sector to work together to improve the conditions in order to reduce wage gaps and increase opportunities for women across India.
Asian Development Blog, January 2021
The disproportionate share of unpaid, unacknowledged and invisible household labour that Indian women are burdened with, the upbringing which perhaps plays a crucial role in gender roles at home and the absence of few female role models at the district and local level are some of the points that this blog highlights.
News 18, January 2021
When a strong and influential leader like Mr.Kamal Haasan advocates for recognising the nation building value that the household women's domestic work holds along with a political will to showcase that, it surely then makes heads and perspectives turn, even Supreme Court for that matter. The blog discusses the pros and cons of the policy mentioned in the manifesto of Mr. Haasan's political party and even the implementation challenges that it will be facing.
Forbes India Magazine. July 2020
In India, access to education for girls has improved tremendously over the last seven decades. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, nearly 89% of school-going children in India are out of school, leading to the resurgence of gender gaps in education. This article brings out the 4 factors that have helped achieving higher levels of female literacy in India, how the pandemic has disrupted them and what can be done to prevent further widening of gender gaps in education.
Citizens for Public Leadership. May 2020
This blog captures the acute shortage of nurses in India due to COVID19. It's observed that India is far behind in providing nurses when compared to other countries battling COVID-19. Almost all the states in India have ratios as low as 0.3 - 0.6 nurses per 1000 population. The article suggests five measures to rescue India from the crutches of this shortage.
Hindustan Times. August 2020
As the issue of mandatory paid leave is in the spotlight, many activists see it as an opportunity to build workplace equality and normalise menstrual conversations. Although this blog acknowledges the need for such leaves for female employees, it examines the issue from an economic perspective and addresses the main areas of concern to the already prevailing caveats for hiring women. it also tries to propose potential solutions to address the implicated socio-economic costs.
News 18. February 2020
It was observed that 60 per cent of the women voters were likely to have voted for AAP as compared to 49 per cent men in the Assembly elections of 2020. The article looks into the priority accorded by AAP to the female electorate through enhanced focus on utilising gender budget by implementing policies for women and children and their role in consequently tipping the Delhi women support in favour of AAP.
South Asia at LSE. October 2019
It is observed that India’s female labour force participation rate has fallen to its lowest point since Independence; women’s employment is concentrated in low-growth, low-productivity sectors; and the gender wage gap is sticky, with the female wage being 60-65% of the male wage since the last three decades. The article suggests ways to involve relevant stakeholders – the government, corporate sector, civil society and the media to find long-term solutions for this multifaceted conundrum.
News 18. October 2020
The Time Use Survey 2019 has been able to quantify a reality many have stated multiple times in the past – that women continue to be burdened with a massively disproportionate share of unpaid, and unacknowledged household labour. This blog highlights the key findings of this report, and attempts to dig deeper behind the numbers, and raise questions of how much autonomy do women really have, and what steps can be taken to address this imbalance.
South Asia at LSE. November 2012
It is observed that less than 2% of BSE 500 companies have female CEOs. 30% business leaders have said that most women at mid-career or senior levels leave voluntarily because of family commitments. The article looks into the key factors that impact women’s progress at the workplace and recommends a few practices to organisations to ensure that they advance their best managerial talent to leadership positions.
South Asia at LSE. January 2014
This blog captures the rising popularity of AAP in Delhi. Having campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, the AAP gained traction when the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act became the first law made in India. The article further critically analyses AAP’s and its competitors attractiveness to voters for the 2014 general elections.
South Asia at LSE. October 2014
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the “Make in India” campaign in 2014 in an attempt to make India a production and manufacturing hub and bring foreign investments in India. 25 key sectors were identified for investment and a website was created to make the investment process easier for investors. This blog aims at deconstructing the economic and political meaning of the campaign and looks into a few necessary steps that the government should take to ensure its sustainability.
The Quint. November 2016
This blog captures the differential impact of demonetization on women due to factors like financial dependency, safety concerns, dependency on cash for savings and physical constraints. The article suggests a few recommendations for the government to ensure a successful transition and move towards a cashless economy.
South Asia at LSE. November 2016
This blog captures the hardships and challenges faced by women, specifically, due to demonetisation. It is observed that 80% of women in India don’t have bank accounts. It is noticed that women have a differential impact particularly due to lack of agency and access to formal banking. The article suggests a few recommendations for the government to ensure a successful transition, and move towards a cashless economy.
South Asia at LSE. March 2017
While offering increased Maternity-Leave may have been a well-intentioned policy, it has created a gap between costs to a company for male and female employees, as well as reinforced traditional gender roles in child-care. The adverse impacts of the policy decision far outweigh the benefits, as women are likely to find themselves in a weak bargaining position. The article explains the various economic impacts of the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act and tries to provide some remedial solutions.
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Indian Express. February 2018
This 2011 Census data for cities shows that women form only 22 per cent of all people travelling for work across India. Safety, or the lack thereof, is the single biggest factor constraining women’s mobility. It also has an adverse impact on women’s choices when accessing education or travelling for work. This blog captures the problems associated with ‘Women-only’ solutions and nudges us to think about ‘Women-focused’ solutions in urban mobility. The article looks at a few international examples and emphasises a need to involve a female perspective in policy design to improve women’s mobility.
Sansaad; Youth Ki Awaaz. October 2018
This blog critically analyses whether the Paternity Benefit Bill will help tilt the balance towards women. Although the Bill does not go far enough in correcting the imbalance created by the Maternity Act 2016, the article analyses the extent to which the Paternity Benefit Bill is a step in the direction to correct the imbalance that women face in the labour market.
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Trade Promotion Council of India. November 2020
The article looks into the aspect of digitalized world in the post Covid-19 era. It focuses on the accessibility gap amongst the Indian population and major constraints hindering 5G rollout in India including infrastructure gap and huge capital investments. The article recommends the essential role government can play in building a level playing policy framework, ensuring healthy competition and inviting innovative private players to hasten 5G rollout. It also emphasizes on the need to up skill vast majority of the population to avoid a digital divide.
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South Asia at LSE. August 2012
This article talks about India’s comprehensive international approach to environmental issues, highlighting the country's desire to move away from the emission targets and towards a much more comprehensive sustainable agenda.
UN Association of the UK. March 2012
This blog captures the significance of UN Women and outlines reasons to support such an initiative. The creation of UN Women was rightly hailed as a historic UN reform. UN Women can undertake pioneering research on policymaking and become a voice for millions of unheard women. But in order for UN Women to realise its potential, we must put our faith - and funds - in this agency.