ISSN (Print) - 0012-9976 | ISSN (Online) - 2349-8846

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Articles by Hema SwaminathanSubscribe to Hema Swaminathan

Not in Her Name

Vol. 51, Issue No. 5, 30 Jan, 2016
Rahul Lahoti, Suchitra J Y, Hema Swaminathan

There have been insistent calls for collection of sex-disaggregated asset data, particularly with respect to landownership, but the government's data collection efforts leave much to be desired. This article presents national level estimates of men and women's incidence of agricultural landownership for the first time, using the India Human Development Survey, 2011-12. Evidence shows that property in women's name is empowering and can have a transformative effect on their lives and of their families and children.

Gender Asset and Wealth Gaps

Vol. 47, Issue No. 35, 01 Sep, 2012
Hema Swaminathan, Rahul Lahoti, Suchitra J Y

In the discussions concerning progress on gender equality, the status of women's asset ownership is a critical missing indicator. Assets are a product of accumulated income, reflecting long-term well-being, and thus are important for determining livelihood choices. While there is general agreement that few women own key assets, there is no systematic sex-disaggregated asset data to measure or monitor. Households are the unit of analysis in standard surveys, where the only feasible gender analysis is by sex of the household head. Using data from a state-representative survey conducted in 2010-11, this paper presents estimates of the gender asset and wealth gaps. The results show substantial gender disparities with respect to asset ownership and wealth.

Women's Property Rights and HIV/AIAIDS in India

Vol. 44, Issue No. 17, 25 Apr, 2009
Hema Swaminathan, Nandita Bhatla, Swati Chakraborty

Gender inequities are one of the key drivers of the hiv epidemic, globally and in India. Women's limited ability to access, own, and control property such as land and housing is one manifestation of gender inequity that has serious implications for women and their families in the context of hiv and aids. Property grabbing, dispossession, or eviction of women after their husbands' death or due to their hiv positive status is slowly emerging as a problem in India. However, there are few interventions that have addressed the intersection of property and hiv/aids. This study locates women's experiences of property conflicts within the larger context of being hiv affected. It describes a range of organisational responses addressing the interaction between property and hiv and highlights the challenges that need to be addressed to shape a meaningful and comprehensive response.

Material and Moral Foundations of India's Africa Policy

Vol. 43, Issue No. 19, 10 May, 2008
Deepak Malghan, Hema Swaminathan

India's Africa policy should be moored in values that address the tremendous socio-economic challenges in the continent and not in a crass geopolitical/material game for control of resources.

The 'Retail Revolution': Do We Know Enough?

Vol. 42, Issue No. 14, 07 Apr, 2007
Hema Swaminathan, Stephan J Goetz

In a society that suffers from chronic poverty and pervasive inequity, the question of retail liberalisation is controversial, both in the economic and political domains. A sensible policy approach would recognise structural inefficiencies in the Indian supply chain and various alternatives available to overcome them.

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