Articles by Zakir Husain

Based on data from the National Sample Survey Office’s surveys on healthcare, this study critically evaluates the impact of the National Health Mission on improving utilisation of maternal healthcare services in Bihar, which had very poor maternal and child health outcomes at the start of the mission. In particular, it investigates factors affecting the utilisation of maternal care services and choice of facilities between the pre- and post-NHM periods; assesses the success of the Janani Suraksha Yojana in enhancing institutional delivery, particularly in public facilities; and estimates the out-of-pocket expenditure on maternal care in the pre- and post-NHM periods and identifies factors affecting such expenditure levels.

This paper examines whether the presence of grandparents increases the probability of mothers going out to work in India. Analysis of data from the Demographic Health Survey (2005-06), supplemented by a primary survey covering 750 graduate women in Kolkata shows that though conservative grandparents may oppose the mother's decision to work, support of grandparents--particularly maternal grandparents--is important in enabling these women to seek paid work in metropolitan cities. The type of care services provided by grandparents is also examined. The findings indicate the importance of multigenerational ties within the family.

Primary completion rates of Muslims in West Bengal are substantially lower than that of upper caste communities as well as backward castes, scheduled castes and tribes. Further, analysis of age-specific pcr indicates that differences in pcr between Muslims and other communities may have actually increased in recent years. An econometric analysis reveals that age, gender, household size and expenditure levels, education and gender of decision-maker, etc, are important determinants of these differences in pcr. But use of Census data and District Information System for Education statistics indicates that deficiencies in infrastructural facilities in Muslim-concentrated districts also have a significant role in the low pcrs of Muslim children.