Poverty, Household Size and Child Welfare in India

This study uses Indian unit record data from expenditure and employment surveys, in conjunction with state level indicators to (a) investigate whether the backward classes and female headed households face higher poverty rates than others; and (b) examine the impact of poverty, along with a host of individual, family, socio-economic and state characteristics, on child labour and child schooling. Special attention is paid to the gender issue, and to the employment and schooling of children from the backward classes and female headed households. The logit regression results point to the positive role that the state governments can play in improving child welfare.