Women, Health and Development

Abstract

THERE is enough evidence to show that often, development policies adopted by governments have widened the disparities amongst sections of people. Analysis of the data shows that over the years, urban areas, as compared to the rural, and men as compared to women have benefited, and the gaps between these have
widened (Karkal and Rajan 1988). Since poverty does not merely deprive individuals of the basic needs for survival, but makes them powerless to even take advantage of the available resources, the plight of the deprived sections has become more miserable over years. In turn, those in power continue planning such that small sections of the advantaged continue to reap benefits at the cost of the majority of Indian people.