The COVID-19 pandemic has left severe impact on livelihood, security and health of informal sector workers, especially domestic workers, majority of whom are women. Being least organised and lacking institutional support, domestic workers are extremely vulnerable to exploitation and human rights violations, and the pandemic has aggravated the situation. Telephonic interviews were conducted with 260 domestic workers from three cities, namely Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi with focus on working conditions, livelihood and household dynamics, health scenario and state support during the pandemic. The data was substantiated with qualitative inputs from in-depth interviews conducted with 12 domestic workers across the cities. In the results, widespread job loss is reported among domestic workers during March–June 2020 along with drastically reduced income and increased workload. About 57% domestic workers reported stigma and discrimination at workplace, and 40% worked without any safety measures. Incidence of domestic violence at home, increased work burden at home, issues in access to health care, etc., were reported. The study findings point out the urgent need to have a national-level policy and state support specifically targeting women domestic workers, without which the situation of poverty, health hazards and social exclusion will continue to exist. JEL Code: J4, J46
This study explores the relationship between maternal employment and health status of children aged under 60 months in India. The study uses data from the nationally representative National Family Health Survey‐4 (2015–2016) of India, and the health status of children was measured using anthropometric indicators, mainly height‐for‐age Z‐score and weight‐for‐age Z‐score. The econometric analysis was performed using ordinary least squares, endogenous treatment effects, and logistic regression models. In general, the findings reveal that children whose mothers are employed have poorer health status compared to children whose mothers are unemployed. To deal with the diversified employment of working mothers, the relationship between maternal employment and children's health was analysed based on various occupational categories. The findings show that children whose mothers are employed in professional jobs have better health status, while children whose mothers are employed in agricultural and manual (skilled and unskilled) jobs have poor health status. Maternal education is found to be one of the important determinants of better child health. The study confirms that investment in female education will bring progress not only for women and their children but also for society as a whole.
Memecylon flavescens Gamble is an endangered taxon of Nilgiri region of Western Ghats. Extensive survey in the study area- Avalanche, Ooty made during 2015-18 has revealed a few interesting aspects about the sexual reproductive cycle. Fruit setting is substantially very low though profuse flowering occurs. Flowers are hermaphrodite, actinomorphic, tetramerous, pin type and protogynous, favouring cross-pollination. Pollen fertility as assessed by Alexander’s differential staining is about 30%. Sections of flower buds have revealed the infestation by undescribed gallmidge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). In 90% of the flower buds observed, gall midge galleries are seen at various levels in the flower bud, destroying the reproductive organs by larval feeding. Hence, negligible fruit setting is mainly due to gallmidge infestation. Protogynous nature and low percent of pollen fertility are added factors aggravating the effect on fruit setting.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.