Institute for Human Development

Funded by the Indian Council of Social Science Research, this project utilizes longitudinal data dating back to the early 1980s and panel data from rural households since the late 1990s in a selection of representative villages in rural Bihar. The project primarily addresses four key themes: poverty, vulnerability, and well-being; labour markets and employment; the intersection of gender, poverty, and employment; and social exclusion and participation. It will conduct an in-depth analysis of various facets of development and poverty, exploring the factors responsible for these changes.
Furthermore, the study will examine how development and transformation have impacted different segments of rural society. The insights derived from this research will be instrumental in shaping a policy agenda for achieving long-term inclusive development in rural Bihar.

This project, funded by 3ie, aims to conduct a rigorous impact evaluation of the Nodal Anganwadi Centre (NAWC) initiative within the Uddeepan program, supported by DFID as part of the Sector-Wide Approach to Strengthening Health (SWASTH) program by the Government of Bihar. The Uddeepan program is presently being executed in nine high-priority districts of the state.
For this research project, a combination of difference-in-difference methodology and regression discontinuity designs will be employed to assess the impacts. The specific objectives of the project include evaluating the Uddeepan program's influence on the quality of services provided and the effectiveness of Anganwadi Centers (AWCs), including Nodal AWCs; examining household utilization of AWCs and household knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding best practices; and identifying factors contributing to variations in program impacts on both AWCs and households.

This IFPRI-sponsored project aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted aspects influencing the quality of primary healthcare services in rural Bihar. Building upon prior work conducted within the MAQARI project by Das et al., the project seeks to perform a systematic and comparative evaluation of the quality of care delivered by both public and private healthcare providers. This assessment encompasses critical domains including provider competence, capabilities, motivational factors, technical dimensions such as infrastructure and drug availability, and the patient or population's care experiences.
The project assigns particular significance to maternal and child healthcare services as an integral component of primary care. It aims to establish connections between the findings and an ongoing study investigating the impact of health financing models on maternal and child health outcomes.

Sponsored by IDRC, Canada, this study establishes a link between urban development processes and the emergence of a non-violent or safe city within the Indian context. The research endeavours to expand the existing knowledge base on this subject in India. The study's objectives are as follows:
1. To comprehend the potential and various pathways through which urban planning and its governance mechanisms can serve as catalysts for conflicts and violence.
2. To explore the potential of inclusive and participatory urban planning in promoting social inclusion.
3. To address gaps in current research concerning urban planning, conflict, and violence.
4. To contribute to the capacity development of young researchers in India, enabling them to conduct research on sensitive topics like urban violence through innovative research tools, including participatory methods.

This project delves into the evolution of women's roles and gender dynamics in rural Bihar over time. It seeks to gather insights into economic, political, and social aspects to determine whether the transition toward gender equality and empowerment has occurred. Through a qualitative study involving 106 groups of women in 14 chosen villages across 9 districts in north and south Bihar, the project examines various dimensions of women's lives. These dimensions include their work, access to essential amenities, the effects of male migration on women and children, and the influence of public policies.

Funded by ICSSR, this project conducted a comprehensive analysis of urbanization and rural-urban connections in Bihar, utilizing a combination of primary and secondary data. This project formed an integral part of a longitudinal study led by IHD focused on rural Bihar, with the overarching aim of informing and enhancing socio-economic development in the state. It specifically addressed the scarcity of primary-level research on rural-urban dynamics and urban centers by conducting qualitative and quantitative investigations in two medium-sized towns, Madhubani and Bihar Sharif. The research findings are anticipated to contribute significantly to a deeper understanding of the factors influencing the relatively slow pace of urbanization in Bihar and the associated implications for the overall trajectory of development and poverty reduction.

Funded by the International Labour Organisation, this research delves into the varying contributions of economic growth, targeted employment initiatives, and income support programs to the alleviation of poverty. It takes a comparative approach, drawing on the experiences of Andhra Pradesh and Bihar during the post-reform period. Beyond assessing the pace of economic growth, the study scrutinizes the nature of growth to gauge its effects on poverty reduction. The research predominantly relies on existing data, with additional primary data collected through a household survey conducted in 12 villages in Bihar.