R Balasubramaniam : Voices from the Grassroots
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Feb 14 2014
PARLIAMENT PRIMER
What has your MP done for you?
PARLIAMENT PRIMER : What has your MP done for you?
As elections draw nearer, it is more important than ever to understand the way the Lok Sabha functions and what our Members of Parliament are expected to do. Only then can we assess their performance and who may be the best choice, writes R Balasubramaniam.
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Dec 31 2012
HEALTH SYSTEM
In search of quality care
HEALTH SYSTEM : In search of quality care
The public's perception that government facilities and services are poor has led them to abandon these in favour of private providers. But those are not necessarily better, writes R Balasubramaniam.
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Nov 25 2012
DEMOCRACY TODAY
Making politics people-friendly
DEMOCRACY TODAY : Making politics people-friendly
There is an urgent need to make politics belong to the people. A big tweak of the way parties function is needed to ensure this, writes R Balasubramaniam.
Mar 08 2012
BENEFIT SCHEMES
A permanent poverty
BENEFIT SCHEMES : A permanent poverty
Are the numerous benefit schemes really helping anyone get out of poverty, or are they merely petty politics that victimises the poor, asks R Balasubramaniam.
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Sep 04 2011
RATION SHOPS
A flawed food security system
RATION SHOPS : A flawed food security system
The unseen impact of corruption on the millions of the deserving poor does not seem to affect our collective conscience. We are losing a great opportunity to show we care, writes R Balasubramaniam.
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Jun 25 2011
POVERTY / SUICIDE
Who killed Sathyamma?
POVERTY / SUICIDE : Who killed Sathyamma?
The State and society must understand that only when we facilitate and provide safety nets and ladders can people in desperate economic conditions hope to get out of the poverty trap, writes R Balasubramaniam.
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Apr 15 2011
VOICES FROM THE GRASSROOTS
The way we used to eat
VOICES FROM THE GRASSROOTS : The way we used to eat
The government distributes rice and wheat to tribals through the PDS, unmindful of their diet and its cultural links. This gives them food security, but takes away their autonomous lives, writes R Balasubramaniam.
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Mar 24 2011
VOICES FROM THE GRASSROOTS
Setting their own paths
VOICES FROM THE GRASSROOTS : Setting their own paths
Women are no longer content with the status quo, and unwilling to wait till men dish out empowerment as a special privilege or favour. We must accelerate this trend, writes R Balasubramaniam.
Jan 01 2011
VOICES FROM THE GRASSROOTS
Can you really empower me?
VOICES FROM THE GRASSROOTS : Can you really empower me?
Only when we think of providing the basic necessities to the millions of poor women around India will empowerment mean anything for them, writes R Balasubramaniam.
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Dec 12 2010
OPINION
Empowering communities the right way
OPINION : Empowering communities the right way

Community engagement should be born out of respect for the participating community members and their capacities rather than as tokenism needed to fulfill a program requirement, writes R Balasubramaniam.

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Dr Ramaswami Balasubramaniam is the founder of the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, , a development institution engaged in a grass-roots approach to improvements in sectors such as health, education, and community development. He is also the founder of Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement, which researches issues faced by communities, translates those into academic research questions for scholars to undertake empirically, and then advocates the research outcomes to ensure relevant and sound public policy