About 80 per cent of India's total population consists of women, but the literacy rate is only 18.7 per cent, as per 1981 census. This book depicts the various patterns of women's struggle against the age-old discrimination. It covers the development of women's movement from every part of the country. Women are not only economically dependent but also politically powerless. The Indian Constitution guarantees equality of the sexes, there is much legislation concerning female employment, including equal pay provisions and maternity benefits and there is legislation reforming Hindu Law so that women have equal inheritance rights. But unfortunately, the government sponsored developmental activities have benefited only a small section of women. In this outstanding work, the author has critically examined all the issues in areas of women and development. Thus, the volumes will be very helpful to policymakers, researchers of women studies, sociology, economic and welfare departments of the governments etc.

The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of India have remained socially, economically, educationally and politically backward since the beginning of caste stratification of Indian Society. There is a close relationship between caste and occupation. The caste system has not allowed weaker sections to shift more productive occupations. After independence, there has been a growing tempo of developmental activities for them to facilitate their mobility. The impact of change appears more striking against a backdrop of relative immobility for centuries. These factors created a definite awareness about social climbing the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. In this book an attempt has been made to improve the condition of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes through reservation facilities. Due to this spirit apart from various constitutional safeguards, a number of voluntary organizations started providing various facilities to the weaker sections of society for their proper upliftment. The Constitution of free India based upon the principles of liberty, equality fraternity and being essentially egalitarian certain fundamental rights to the citizens for free self-expression and development of personality. The author gives valuable suggestions to improve the socio-economic conditions of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Thus, the outstanding book will be immense use to researchers, students of various disciplines and policy-makers of the country.

India holds a unique position in the history of human civilization. The complexities of races, languages and cultures the manifestations of its uniqueness. Even today it has attracted the Indian as well s foreign scholars who have tried to determine the typology, characteristics and boundaries of Indian culture. One of the methods chosen to discuss this uniqueness is to detail various facets of the Indian society. The present volume (Ist of the series) is a humble attempt to analyse the contemporary Indian Society. Professor Sachchinanda, has touched various facets of it in his writings, e.g., women, education, children, Harijan, Tribals, culture change, social movements etc. This boo includes some of these themes as traits of contemporary Indian society. It is heartening to note that eminent scholars in their respective fields have contributed to make volume an analytical allegory. .

This second volume on "Contemporary Indian Society" in a collection of original essays by social scientists. The authors are experts of their own field. The subjects of their essays range widely over the major dimensions of Indian Society. At one hand the readers will be fascinated by the tribal situation in Andaman archipelago and on the other by Urbanisation and Modernisation of Indian Society. This volume presents the real picture of rural setting in contemporary India covered through five different papers. The problems of weaker section of India society like women, scheduled castes and tribes have been examined at length. Alternatives of development through social planning have been suggested as a model of development. The essay on Gandhian approach is the best example to touch human values in Indian society. The sad plight of leprosy patient has added to draw attention pf planners and readers towards the lowest in Indian Society.