Articles by S Irudaya Rajan

The three rounds of the National Family Health Survey have generated vast amounts of data, which unfortunately have been subject to only limited critical examination by Indian research scholars, though the opposite is the case with scholars outside India. The nfhs-3, which was conducted in 2005-06, covered many more areas than the previous surveys and collected information in new and sensitive areas like sexual behaviour. However, there are questions about the quality of data thrown up by nfhs-3. Information on some indicators such as fertility and infant mortality remains of reasonably good quality, but the data on nutrition, immunisation, and gender violence is suspect. There have been three of these very large surveys since 1992-93, and it is perhaps time to reflect on the experience so far and plan for the next survey a decade after nfhs-3 which would be five years after the 2011 Census.

Almost half of the four million Indian emigrants to the Gulf are from Kerala. Among them, 16 per cent are women, a growing number since they were only 9 per cent a few years ago. This article focuses on the specificities of this female emigration with an analysis of statistical data from a recent survey. It presents the results of an anthropological study of the emigration of nurses from Kerala.

The UPA government has suggested a new bill to increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures and reserve 33 per cent of them for women. One point that emerges clearly from the debate is that neither the political parties nor the government are clear on certain important issues, including how many seats will be added and on what basis. Increasing the number of seats in the Lok Sabha by amending the Constitution would go against the spirit of the 91st amendment and the National Population Policy, 2000 that freezes the expansion of seats until 2026.

The United Arab Emirates once formed a principal destination for Indian emigrants in search of jobs. But the fear of a rapid demographic imbalance has prompted a policy shift - 'emiritisation' - which has led to a decline in numbers of unskilled and skilled emigrant workers from India. This article examines the state of Indian emigrant labour to the UAE, the structure and conditions of employment.

This study explores the relationship between antenatal care and AIDS awareness and knowledge of methods of prevention, and shows a strong connection between the two. But AIDS awareness and knowledge among married women is disturbingly low. Outreach and intervention efforts therefore need to focus on promoting comprehensive knowledge about prevention of AIDS, especially through the broadcast media.