The purpose of this book is to study the regional disparities in respect of some important selected development indicators over time period for each sector of economy separately and in combination and to compare the poverty and inequality measures at regional, community levels, and district levels. Also identify the factors determining the poverty at household level and estimate the rural poverty in Odisha at district / regional levels based on the 68th round (2011-12) of the Household Consumer Expenditure data of the National Sample Survey (NSS) and 2011 Indian Population Census data, using...

Reproductive health is defined as" A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters related to the reproductive system and to its functions and process". This definition is taken and modified from the WHO definition of health. Reproductive health addresses the human sexuality and reproductive processes, functions and system at all stages of life and implies that people are able to have "a responsible, satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and...

Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are now the dominant abstraction. It is now nearly two decades old. It is stated that SHGs play an important role in accelerating the country's economic development. SHGs have now grown in size as a result of movement. Women make up the majority of SHG members. Women's participation in the country's development is increasing. They also play an important role in boosting the economy. This does not mean that economic development necessarily results in improving the women who constitute about 50 per cent of the population. A self-help group is a self-governed,...