India's Social Sector and Millennium Development Goals: Issues, Challenges and Policy Measures

Book Details

• Author: Hazra, Anupam

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2013

• ISBN: 9788131605790

• Pages: 232

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches

About the Book

This important volume offers a timely and critical examination of India's progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), with a particular focus on the social sector. As the 2015 MDG deadline approached, six of the eight goals—ranging from poverty alleviation and hunger reduction to primary education, women's empowerment, and improvements in health—remained pressing priorities for India. The book adopts an MDG-centric lens to explore how national strategies have addressed these vital areas and evaluates their effectiveness in tackling entrenched socio-economic challenges.

Drawing from the latest data and developments in policy and implementation, the book provides an in-depth analysis of India's efforts in social sector development, including poverty reduction programs, food security measures, primary education initiatives, and health services. It highlights the intersections between gender empowerment and health, and the role of education as a foundational driver of human development. With less than three years remaining to meet the MDG targets at the time of writing, the author reflects on progress made and the gaps that persist.

Furthermore, the book proposes a set of comprehensive policy recommendations aimed at ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth in India's social sector. It serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, development professionals, academics, and researchers interested in social development, public policy, and international development goals. The insights offered are instrumental for shaping future strategies that can help India fulfill its commitments not only toward the MDGs but also the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that followed.