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As a reaction against the institutionalized top-down developmental orientation, the theory and praxis of development as an inclusive process of socio-political collective transformation has been constantly realized. At this juncture, performative activities have become increasingly instrumental strategies in engaging people more intrinsically in their various personal and social development issues. The focus of this paper lies in studying Jana Sanskriti Centre for Theatre of the Oppressed, which despite being an apolitical organisation, offers significant contribution towards searching for viable socio-political possibilities in contemporary India. The paper delves into discussing some specific ground realities of rural West Bengal, deliberating on the endeavours of Jana Sanskriti in extending onstage representations to offstage reformation. This research investigates how sustainable changes, defined as both individual psychological transformation and groups' socio-political consciousness are generated among spectators through participation in this theatrical process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the economic determinants of female-owned proprietorships for 52 metro cities in India. The National Sample Survey (NSS) unit-level data are used for the analysis. The descriptive results show that women's proprietorship is much lower than its counterpart. The Probit regression results at the individual level show that women entrepreneurs do not have a bank account or computer but use the internet, are not registered under any act or authority, and do not expand considerably. They operate within household premises with a limited number of months and duration of a day, undertaking mainly contract basis. They also face several problems that hinder their activities. City-level factors such as work participation rate, consumption expenditure, higher levels of general and technical degrees, and vocational training are essential. The likelihood of becoming a female entrepreneur is negatively impacted by the two agglomeration variables of population size and participation in mixed activity. City-level poverty and inequality also adversely affect it. State-level Human Development Index, Gender Development Index, and Gender Inequality Index are also significant. Finally, we propose important policies to enable the city environment to improve women's entrepreneurship activities for higher and sustainable economic development. • Female-owned entrepreneurship (FOE) is essential for sustainable and inclusive economic growth in developing countries. • The agglomeration size, unequal economic distribution, and less female-friendly society discourage becoming FOE. • Knowledge spillovers, labour pooling, availability of public services, and infrastructure encourage FOE. • Cities need to increase investment, employment, level of education, and delivery of public services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper outlines the critical role of personal agency in influencing health and development outcomes and presents a framework for implementing non-therapeutic cognitive-behavioral interventions that foster agency, especially for women, in resource-poor settings. The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has placed "empowerment" at the center of global targets, particularly to improve individuals' health and development. Despite extensive research on individual and community empowerment, there is limited focus on the role of psychological and behavioral approaches directly fostering individual and collective agency in health programs. Fundamental to this process is the understanding that decision-making is an interaction between mental processes and one's current context. Approaches that allow individuals to understand how their beliefs, values, emotions, and thoughts impact their behaviors and can be modulated to increase their personal agency are needed. This model is illustrated through a pilot behavioral intervention with women engaged in sex work in Pune, India, demonstrating substantive benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education is concerned with human resource development. The role of education in economic change of society through human resource development is very much significant in the developing countries. Development cannot be sustainable unless it is equitable. Today's development has people-centred approach emphasising the empowerment of people. Woman is the key to this development and empowerment of women is pre-requisite for creating an egalitarian society. Education can create a new outlook. It is a powerful device to change human nature in a desirable way. The process of education helps individual to know the self. It is education, which prepares them for full membership in the society. Changes brought about by education are permanent and transcendent in nature. Education determines the levels and well-being of people. Gender discrimination and patriarchal attitude which are being practiced for so many years have incapacitated women in such a way that they cannot stand alone unless a strong support is provided to them. Women of both urban and rural areas have realised the significance and importance of education to challenge the age-old domination and exploitation of patriarchal society. They have found education as a means towards empowerment which would ensure their participation in the decision-making in all walks of life. The present paper will try to highlight this changed behaviour of girl students, specifically in the higher education level, considering Gauhati University as the universe of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Integrated analysis of passenger and freight transport in India. • Policy-relevant pathways derived using soft-coupled models. • Considerable fuel-import foreign exchange savings off-setting high investments. • Over 80% GHG emission reduction possible in 2050 below business-as-usual scenario. Dependence on crude oil imports, high correlation with economic growth, and contribution to air pollution cause the transformations in transport sector in India to have significant ramifications. Moreover, these transitions are to be steered through the global and domestic sustainable development and carbon neutrality goals. In this paper, we determine the energy-environment-economy implications of transport sector dynamics by undertaking an integrated analysis using a novel methodological approach involving two main aspects: soft-coupling the IMACLIM-IND and AIM/Enduse models; and back-casting approach with long-term benchmarks. We examine four scenarios: business-as-usual (BAU), development first (DEVF), carbon neutrality (CNT) and synchronous (SYNCH). Our synchronous scenario pathway reduces the crude oil and natural gas imports by 68% for the year 2050 compared to 2012 in the BAU scenario, leading to foreign exchange saving of 5.8 trillion US$ during 2013–2050. The envisioned transitions necessitate formulation of strategic policies which provide equitable access of transportation to all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]