http://repub.eur.nl/res/aut/55057/ List of Publications en http://repub.eur.nl/static-eur/img/logo.png http://repub.eur.nl http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/38430/ 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z Introduction: TWO BIHAR VILLAGES. In the early 1980s, a research project was carried out on the dynamics of poverty and employment in Bihar. That project collected information on patterns of development and levels of living in a representative sample of 36 villages from different regions of the State. Since that date, several further studies have been carried out in the same villages.1 The present paper concerns two of these villages, chosen to reflect differing development situations. Chandkura, a village in Nalanda district, was selected from a relatively advanced region near to the State capital, Patna; in the 1981 study it was described as a relatively prosperous village of medium peasants typical of South Bihar. Mahisham (sometimes known as Mahisan2), a village in Madhubani district, was selected from a relatively underdeveloped region in the north of the State; in 1981 it was described as a backward village typical of North Bihar. This paper investigates the changes that have occurred over the last 30 years in these two villages and how they have affected the lives and livelihoods of the populations concerned. In particular, it tries to pinpoint similarities and divergences in the development paths of these villages, and to understand the reasons. ... http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/34852/ 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/34864/ 2011-09-19T00:00:00Z Bihar has a rich history of out-migration from the state which goes back to as early as the 19th Century. However, in the last few decades, migration for work has increased manifold. The sheer scale of out-migration in contemporary Bihar is astounding. At any given point of time, as many almost one-half of the total working men are absent from the state, working elsewhere in urban and rural centres in the country and abroad. Migration from the state is essentially male and is embedded in the lives and life choices of the people. It is not just a livelihood strategy, but a way of life in rural Bihar. While there is considerable research that studies the nature and pattern of migration from Bihar, profile of migrant workers, migration destination and other such correlates of a migrant’s life outside the village, there is sparse literature on the impact of this migration on people, especially women who are left behind in the village. Many research questions remain unanswered. How are institutions such as caste and patriarchy in the village affected by male migration? How does male migration influence women’s well being and agency? Does migration have an effect on women’s mobility? Does it empower or disempower women left behind? What role does technology such as mobile phones play in communicating and staying in touch with migrant family members? What impact does this have on the women left behind in villages? This paper engages with the questions raised above and it aims to study and analyse the impact of male migration on women who are left behind in rural Bihar. It explores the various contours of continuity and change in women’s lives as a ramification of male migration. It specifically looks at the impact of migration on women’s work, both paid and unpaid; on their decision making in the household; on their mobility; on their involvement in managing money and access to credit. This empirical work is based on a survey of groups of women in 12 selected villages across 6 districts of north and south Bihar. A total of 88 groups of women across various castes (Upper castes, Other Backward Castes I & II, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) and socio-religious (Hindu, Upper Muslim, Lower Muslim) groups were surveyed. The paper is a part of a larger study, ‘Status of Women in Bihar: Exploring Transformation in Work and Gender Relations’ undertaken by the Institute for Human Development (IHD) and supported by the International Labour Organization to ascertain broad insights into the status of women in rural Bihar with a view to examine any signs of transformation in work and gender relations. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/34866/ 2011-02-01T00:00:00Z http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/34861/ 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/34865/ 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z Bihar has a rich history of out-migration from the state, which goes back to as early as the nilieteenth century. However, during the last few decades, migration for work has increased manifold. The sheer scale of out-migration in contemporary Bihar is astounding. At any given point of time, as many as nearly one-half of the total number of working men are absent from the state, as they are working elsewhere in urban and rural centres in the country and abroad. Migration from the state is almost exclusively that of the male population and is embedded in the lives ana life choices of the people. It is not just a livelihood strategy but a way of life in rural Bihar. While there is considera_ble research on various aspects of migration including the nature and pattern of/nigrationfrom Bihar, the profile of migrant workers, migration destinations and other such correlates of a migrant's life outside the village, there is sparse literature on the impact of this migration on people, especially on the women who are left behind in the village. Many research questions remain unanswered. How are institutions such as patriarchy in the village affected by male_migration? How does male migration influence women's well-being and agency? Does migration have an effect on women's mobility? Does it empower or disempower the women who are left behind? What role does technology such as mobile phones play in enabling those left behind to communicate with their migrant family members? What impact does this have on the women left behind in the villages? http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/34867/ 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z