CHIP Report 16: Understanding childhood poverty in Rajasthan
Abstract
Based on research in four Rajasthani villages, and a wide range of research methods, this report gives a detailed picture of family livelihoods, children's work, their health, nutrition and access to education. It suggests that the risk of intergenerational poverty cycles is strong, and increased by recent drought and the costs of social obligations, such as death feasts, both of which contribute to high levels of indebtedness. A further key factor is gender discrimination which results in women passing on poor health and nutritional status to their children and limits girls' educational opportunities. The various state and Government of India programmes operating in the study communities were doing little to tackle childhood poverty, due to a combination of under-resourcing and lack of accountability of service providers to those they are intended to serve.
Citation
Bhargava, P., Mathur, K., Rajagopal, S. (2005) CHIP Report 16: Understanding childhood poverty in Rajasthan. Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre (CHIP), London, UK, ISBN: 1-904922-16-3, x + 71 pp.
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