Large-scale irrigation and dam projects to enhance agricultural productivity and economic growth yield significant ecological and social costs undermining sustainability. Siltation from deforestation reduces reservoir capacity while waterlogging, salinization, and waterborne diseases degrade ecosystems and livelihoods. The Narmada Valley project exemplifies these challenges, displacing over one million people- mostly tribal- and submerging 350,000 hectares of forest and farmland with contested economic benefits. Inadequate rehabilitation policies exacerbate displacement impacts, leaving landless and marginalized groups without support.

Human costs are equally severe, with Displacement being a primary concern. The WCD estimates that 40-80 million people have been uprooted globally by dam projects, often disproportionately affecting marginalized groups. The Akosombo Dam in Ghana displaced 80,000 people, forming Lake Volta but stripping communities of livelihoods. China’s Three Gorges Dam relocated 1.2 million, facing massive resettlement challenges. Brazil’s Belo Monte Dam displaced up to 40,000, with compensation efforts yielding uneven outcomes. These cases spotlight the social upheaval and economic instability inflicted on vulnerable populations. Health risks compound these human tolls. Irrigation systems create breeding grounds for disease vectors.

Despite benefits like improved water access and crop production, projects like Sardar Sarovar highlight systemic neglect of ecological mitigation and equitable resettlement. Sustainable dam development requires strong rehabilitation, environmental management, and inclusive planning to balance economic gains with social and ecological integrity.

Keywords: Dam-induced Displacement, Ecological degradation, Resettlement policy, Sustainable irrigation
JEL classification: Q25, Q56, Q57, R23.

This conceptual paper examines the intersection of health, migration, and marginalisation among informal migrant workers in India, with a focus on the Seemanchal region of Bihar and their experiences in urban centres like Delhi. It aims to understand the structural inequalities and health vulnerabilities that arise due to socioeconomic status, legal invisibility, informality, and limited access to healthcare services. Using a social development perspective, the paper critically examines how policies, social structures, and migration patterns interact to shape the lives of informal migrant workers. This study highlights the complex web of inequalities that migrants face in urban settings, particularly concerning health access and the systemic barriers that perpetuate their marginalisation. Drawing on existing literature, secondary data, and theoretical frameworks, the paper proposes a need for integrated policy approaches that promote inclusive development, enhance healthcare accessibility, and address the root causes of social exclusion faced by migrants, offering a beacon of hope for positive change. 

Keywords: Health Inequalities, Migration, Marginalisation, Informal Migrant Workers, Social Development, Structural Inequality, Healthcare Access, Urban Migration, Policy and Development.
JEL Codes: R5, J130, J160

Elections are a crucial element for a democracy to function efficiently and act as a mechanism of checks and balances for elected representatives. Various democratic nations are facing a problem of low voter turnout, particularly among young people. The high level of inconsistencies in the turnout of youth is a matter of concern. India, the world’s largest democracy, is also facing this issue. As a hub of the majority population, the voter turnout numbers and the gap between urban and rural areas are concerning. The present study was conducted in Guwahati, Assam, to understand the reasons for low voter turnout among youth and explore their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding the electoral process. The findings reveal various factors behind low voter participation, such as migration for education, low awareness, and several others. Additionally, the concepts of compulsory voting and the role of the media were also highlighted. Thus, elections serve as the backbone of democracy, and every voter needs to exercise their right to vote.

Keywords: Democracy, Elections, Voting, Youth and Rights.

Entrepreneurship is increasingly recognized as a driver of inclusive and sustainable development, as well as economic resilience, social justice, and environmental sustainability. According to Amartya Sen (1999), progress should be viewed as the expansion of liberties, in which case entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in enhancing capacities and reducing inequality. Although academics such as Mariana Mazzucato (2013) stress the need for state-led innovation and inclusive policies to ensure that economic benefits are distributed, Joseph Schumpeter’s (1934) theory of creative destruction emphasizes how entrepreneurial innovation drives economic advancement. Particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasize the importance of entrepreneurship in creating sustainable livelihoods and thereby reducing systemic inequalities. Global statistics, however, highlight relatively apparent differences in entrepreneurial activity. Often hampered by financial exclusion and socio- cultural barriers, women-led businesses account for just 23% of high-growth companies globally, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2023 Report. With caste, class, and regional differences exacerbating exclusionary practices, the Sixth Economic Census (2016) reveals that women entrepreneurs account for just 14% of the overall entrepreneurial ecosystem in India.

One transforming tool for broad economic involvement has become digital entrepreneurship. Researchers like Naila Kabeer (2012) emphasize the interplay between Access to resources, gender, and agency in shaping entrepreneurial outcomes. Although the gender digital divide and algorithmic biases still present difficulties for underprivileged entrepreneurs, technology-driven platforms have lowered entrance barriers (UNCTAD, 2021). Moreover, sustainability-oriented businesses must navigate the conflict between profitability and social impact, as reflected in Porter and Kramer’s (2011) concept of “Creating Shared Value.”

Keywords: Entrepreneurship, sustainable development, inclusive development, economic equity, digital entrepreneurship, social innovation.

This conceptual paper explores the intersections between mental health and social development by examining perinatal challenges among sub-tribal communities in Manipur, Northeast India. The paper situates perinatal mental health within the broader socio-cultural, economic, and political contexts of marginalised Indigenous populations, particularly focusing on sub-tribal groups who often remain underrepresented in policy and research discourse. It critically interrogates how structural inequalities, gendered expectations, poor health infrastructure, and intergenerational trauma shape the perinatal experiences of tribal women. The analysis draws from Indigenous knowledge systems, feminist frameworks, and public health paradigms to advocate for culturally responsive and community-rooted mental health interventions. By mapping the systemic neglect and community resilience mechanisms, the paper underscores the potential impact of integrated social development policies that address the psychological, social, and developmental well-being of women during and after pregnancy in marginalised tribal contexts.

Keywords: Perinatal mental health; Sub-tribal communities; Manipur; Indigenous health; Social development; Gender; Northeast India; Structural inequalities; Community resilience.
JEL Codes: J130, J160, R5

Target 8.7 of Sustainable Development Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) seeks to eliminate all forms of child labour by 2025. However, a joint report by the ILO and UNICEF titled “Child Labour: Global Estimates 2020, Trends and the Road Forward” presents a stark contrast to this goal. The report reveals that 160 million children 63 million girls and 97 million boys-are engaged in child labour, representing one in ten children globally. Alarmingly, 79 millions of these children are involved in hazardous work, with boys being particularly vulnerable. Furthermore, one-third of these child labourers are out of school, compounding the long-term socioeconomic impact. The report suggests that previous gains in reducing child labour have stalled, even reversed in some regions, exposing critical gaps in global and national interventions. In this light, the present paper revisits the child labour crisis in India, highlighting the structural and socioeconomic factors contributing to persistently high and often underreported numbers. It seeks to critically analyze the reasons behind the resurgence of child labour, particularly in informal and invisible sectors, thereby questioning the reliability of official data and the effectiveness of existing policies aimed at its eradication.

Keywords: Traditional Indian social system- Homo hierarchical- Hereditary specialization of occupations - Jajmani system - Child Labour

This study explores globalization’s impact on India’s street vendors, a vulnerable informal workforce 10 million, amid economic liberalization since the 1990s. Drawing on Kurth (1999) and Chomsky (2000), it examines how U.S.-driven institutions (IMF, WTO) disrupt traditional livelihoods, intensifying exclusion through displacement by modern retail, legal barriers, and economic marginalization. Street vendors face systemic harassment, bribery (e.g., Rs 400 crore annually in Mumbai), and caste-based vulnerabilities, worsened by globalization’s knowledge-technology bias. Despite the Street Vendors Act 2014, patchy implementation fails to mitigate these pressures. The research emphasizes the need for inclusive policies- legal recognition, credit access, and education- to counter globalization’s inequities, aligning with Sen’s (1999) “development as freedom” framework. Secondary sources, including Bhowmik (2008) and Radhakrishnan (2006), inform this analysis of a marginalized yet vital urban population.

Keywords: Globalization, Street Vendors, Informal Economy, Social Exclusion