Human Development, Equity & Gender Justice

The ultimate objective of all economic efforts is human development which encompasses quality of life, the level of well-being and access to basic social services. The Fundamental Rights that India''s Constitution guarantees to every citizen include the right to life and the right to livelihood is inherent in the right to life. The root cause of social insecurity in India is poverty and that is largely due to lack of adequate or productive employment opportunities. The pattern of economic development in India since Independence in 1947 has left in its trail a variety of inequalities which have caused socio-politico tensions. While the economy has performed well in terms of growth rate of gross domestic product (GDP), its performance in terms of human development indicators has been unsatisfactory. India''s recent economic growth performance has, indeed, been creditable. However, such growth must make a demonstrable difference to the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable citizens. India has the potential and the means to secure a reasonable standard of living for all of its citizens. The socio-economically disadvantaged -- particularly women in rural areas -- are yet to benefit from development efforts. The present volume contains 12 well-researched papers -- authored by experts in the field -- which provide deep insights into the various aspects of human development in the context of social justice and women empowerment.