Vikas Rawal

The COVID-9 pandemic has generated human suffering and economic devastation across the world – but these reflect not just the impact of the disease but the policy failures of governments. Further, the trajectory of the disease and the human and economic outcomes has varied greatly, again because of how governments have responded and the institutional context. This volume brings together analyses of the public policy responses from many different countries, to evaluate what has worked and what hasn’t, what has been done and what could have been done – and the potential directions for the future.

This is the second in a series of field reports on village surveys conducted by the Foundation for Agrarian Studies. This report deals with agrarian relations in two villages of Rajasthan: Rewasiin Sikar district and 25 F Gulabewala in Sri Ganganagar district. It presents an analysis of statistical data collected through census-type surveys conducted in both villages. The focus of the study is on differences across socio-economic classes and social groups in respect of a rang eof variables, including land, assets, incomes, crop production, employment, indebtedness, schooling, and housing. The report attempts to contribute to the discussion on agrarian relations and economic distress in contemporary rural Rajasthan and India.

In November 2014, representatives from over 170 governments, together with leaders of inter-governmental organizations and civil society - including non-governmental organizations, researchers, the private sector, and consumer representatives - converged in Rome for the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2). ICN2 was organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to mobilize and unite the international community for the protracted struggle against malnutrition. The conference and its preparatory process provided a forum in which the world community, led by governments, affirmed its shared commitment to eradicating malnutrition by adopting the Rome Declaration and reaching agreement on a comprehensive, harmonized Framework for Action. Ending Malnutrition: From Commitment to Action aims to make available the insights and judgments that emerged from ICN2 to practitioners across the world. It begins with a review of current evidence on the prevalence and incidence of malnutrition across the globe. It then presents analyses of the most salient policy issues to be confronted in a concerted global effort to end malnutrition: strengthening food systems as the core of a sustainable nutrition strategy; promoting social protection to address underlying inequities as well as immediate needs that contribute to malnutrition; using fortification and supplementation, especially, to address micronutrient deficiencies; and ensuring improved access to water and sanitation for an effective nutrition strategy. A concluding chapter focuses on the indispensable role that multilateral institutions can play in accelerating and sustaining global momentum on nutrition, and to secure a place for nutrition at the forefront of the post-2015 sustainable development agenda. Throughout, the emphasis is on practical steps that can be taken by governments and their partners to end malnutrition in all its forms.

This volume is a field report on surveys of agrarian relations in three villages in Andhra Pradesh conducted by scholars of the Foundation for Agrarian Studies. The study villages are Ananthavaram village in Kollur mandal, Guntur district; Bukkacherla village in Raptadu mandal, Anantapur district; and Kothapalle village in Thimmapur L. M. D. Mandal, Karimnagar district. This volume presents an analysis of statistical data collected through the village surveys with a special focus on differences across socio-economic classes and social groups. There are separate chapters on land and asset inequality, tenancy, household incomes, crop incomes, employment and wages, indebtedness, literacy and school education, and household amenities. The report attempts to contribute information, statistical data and analysis to the discussion on agrarian relations and economic distress in contemporary rural Andhra Pradesh and India.