Articles by Ratna M Sudarshan

Sonalde Desai in “Caste and Census: A Forward Looking Strategy” (EPW, 17 July) suggests that we need a caste census because there is adequate evidence of “caste based inequalities refl ecting social processes that deserve policy attention” and the bulk of her article suggests a way of dealing with

A study conducted in urban Delhi through a household survey between September and November 2006 estimates a greater female workforce participation rate than recorded in the National Sample Survey. It indicates undercounting and reflects the informality that surrounds women's work. This paper seeks to explore the nature of women's workforce participation and attempts to identify key factors influencing women's decision to work, the type of work they do, the constraints they face, and the perceived benefits and costs of engaging in paid work outside the home. In doing so, issues surrounding the methodology and underestimation of women's work within the urban context are also tackled. The study also suggests the need to understand the familial and household context within which labour market decisions are made. The role of family and kinship structures to determine women's work-life choices emerge as an important area for further study.