DEPARTMENTS - ARTS

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMOICS

Profile

The M.A. Programme offered by the Department provides a strong grounding in Economics theory and techniques of analysis. The syllabi for the courses on Economic Theory have been styled after the UGC – Curriculum Development model, with comprehensive modules on various topics. A definite thrust is given in two areas: (a) Development experience of different leading economics vis-à-vis the Indian economic development and (b) Environmental Economics, with three courses on theory and policy, India’s environment and global aspects of sustainable development. Thus the PG programme helps the students gain a broad perception of the discipline and its working in the real world. The Department has a well-stocked library, its special strength being in the area of environment and development.

The areas of research specialization of the department faculty include:

Agrarian Transformation, Industry and Entrepreneurship, Rural Development and Management, Education, Health and Human Development, Gender Issues, Environmental Economics, Globalization, Macro economic policy and Indian Political Economy.

The Department has executed several projects over the years. Among the major Department projects, mention may be made of the Social Forestry Project of the Government of Tamil Nadu, carried out with funding from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). Besides Departmental projects, individual faculty members have separately and jointly carried out several projects. These include evaluation of India’s population education programmes, studies of vital rates in Tamil Nadu, assessment of the role of women in Panchayati Raj, rural drinking water studies, identifying hunger households to ensure food security, trade liberalization and gender, survey of literacy and education in Karnataka, studies of production relations in India agriculture, village surveys and resurveys, industrial pollution, micro enterprises and women’s empowerment.

The Department has, through its faculty, carried out several consultancy and training assignments for various clients including the governments of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and India as well as international agencies such as DANIDA, UNICEF, UNFPA, SIDA, CIDA etc.

Points to Note

Telephone Number/s : 0431-407054

Name of the H.O.D. : Dr. V.B. ATHREYA

Programmes offered

Method of assessment

An informal mechanism exists whereby the faculty keep tract of each student’s progress. The assignment of students to particular faculty members for project/thesis work facilitates this process. Besides, the system of continuous internal assessment provides continuous feedback. There will be two tests and an assignment over a semester in every paper, and an end of semester examination.

National / International seminars and workshops

The Department has conducted Endowment Lectures. During 1999-2000, the eminent agricultural scientist Prof. M.S. Swaminathan delivered an Endowment Lecture on Food Security. Other speakers in our two Endowment Lectures series include Prof. K.N. Raj, Professor I.S. Gulati, Professor C.T. Kurien, Prof. U. Sankar, and Prof. A.Vaidyanathan, all internationally renowned economists. Professor Staffan Lindberg of Lund University, Sweden has also delivered an Endowment Lecture.

International / National collaborations

Currently, there are no formal programmes/projects of international/national collaboration programmes. However, Dr. V.B. Athreya has in his individual capacity, visited the following institutions on invitation and delivered lectures during summer, 1997.

i. Centre for Development Research, University of Denmark, Copenhagen.

ii. Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

iii. Oxford University, U.K.

iv. University of Manchester, U.K.

v. Institute for Development Studies, London School of Economics, U.K.

vi. SWALLOWS, Denmark.

Dr. V.B. Athreya had also presented a paper at the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute Workshop in Montreal, Canada in November 19997.

Faculty

Ongoing projects

Basic and Advanced facilities

A Photo-copier and Ten Computers, OHP, Slide Projector, Tape-Recorder.

Procedures followed for selecting research scholars

Academic record, proposal, oral and written exams.

Publications

Dr. V.B. Athreya

1 V.B.Athreya and S.R.Chunkath, LITERACY AND EMPOWERMENT Sage Publications, New Delhi, London and Thousand Oaks, USA, 1996.

2 V.B.Athreya and K.S. Rajeswari, Women’s Participation in Panchayats: A Case Study from Tamilnadu, M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation Monograph, Chennai, 1997.

03. V.B. Athereya Vital Events Surveys 1998, Report for DANIDA TNHCP, Chennai.1999.

04. V.B. Athreya and Sheela Rani Chunkath (1996 a) ‘ Literacy : The Arivoli Experience’ With Sheela Rani Chunkath, in Design for Partnership, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Madras, April 1996.

05. V.B. Athreya and Sheela Rani Chunkath (1997 a) ‘ A Massive Challenge : The experience with Adult Literacy Campaigns’ in Frontline Vol 13, No 17, pp 73-76.

06. V.B. Athreya and Sheela Rani Chunkath ( 1997 b) ‘Female Infanticide in Tamil Nadu : Some Evidence’ Economic and Political Weekly, April 1997.

07. V.B. Athreya and Sheela Rani Chunkath ( 1997 c) ‘Gender Discrimination Strikes : Disquieting Aspects of Early Neonatal Deaths in Tamil Nadu’, Frontline Vol 14, No 13, pp 94-97.

08. V.B. Athreya and Sheela Rani Chunkath (1997 Trends in Infant Mortality Rates : A Comparison ofSouth Indian States 1971 – 1993, a paper present at the T.N. Krishnan Memorial Symposium, Thiruvananthapuram, September 7-8, 1997.

09. V.B. Athreya (1997 a) Female infanticide in Tamil Nadu paper presented at the State Level DANIDA Project Workshop on Infant Mortality Rate in Tamil Nadu, Chennai, September 1997.

10. V.B. Athreya (1997 b), Review of P. Patnaik, Whatever happened to Imperialism?, in Review of Development and Change Vol 1, No 2., 1997.

11. V.B. Athreya (1997 c), ‘Women Workers in Madras Export Processing Zone’, Discussion Paper, Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram.

12. V.B. Athreya (1997 d) ‘Women Workers in Leather Industry of North Arcot’, Discussion Paper, Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram.

13. V.B. Athreya and R. Rajendran (1997) ‘ Trade Liberalisation and Gender : A study of workers in Garment Industry in Tiruppur’ Discusion Paper, Centre for Development Studies, Tiruvananthapuram.

14. V.B. Athreya and Sheela Rani Chunkath (1998 a) Maternal mortality in Tamil Nadu’, Frontline, February 6, 1998.

15. V.B. Athreya and Sheela Rani Chunkath (1998 b), ‘Safe Abortion Services and the Public Health System’, paper presented to the International Workshop on Abortion Facilities, March 23-24, 1998. New Delhi.

16. V.B. Athreya and Sheela Rani Chunkath (1998C) ‘Caste and Female infanticide in Tamil Nadu’, with Sheela Rani Chunkath, paper presented to the workshop on the South Indian Demographic Transition, Thiruvananthapuram, April 6-8, 1998.

17. V.B. Athreya and Sheela Rani Chunkath (1998 d), Gender and infant Survival in Tamil Nadu’ with Sheela Rani Chunkath in Economic and Political Weekly, Obtober3-9, 1998.

18. V.B. Athreya (1998) ‘Social Mobilization for Change’, Frontline Vol 15, No 20.

19. V.B. Athreya (1999 a) “Evolution of adult Literacy policy in India� in Barbara Harriss-While and S.Subramanian(ed.) Illfare in India, SAGE Publications, London/New Delhi,1999.

20. V.B. Athreya (1999 b) ‘Female infanticide in India’, in Alternate Economic Survey 1999-2000, Delhi Science Forum, New Delhi, 1999.

21. V.B. Athreya (1999 c) “Female infanticide in India: The Challenge of Elimination� Family Medicine in India, Vol 3, No 4, July September 1999, paper 31-35

22. V.B.Athreya and Sheela Rani Chunkath (2000), “Female Infanticide in Dharmapuri 1997-99�. Economic and Political Weekly, December 2-8, 2000.

Dr. C. Thangamuthu

23. C. Thangamuthu – “Some Aspects of Higher Education in Tamil Nadu� University News, Vol 38, No 24, June 12, 2000.

24. C. Thangamuthu – “Approaches to Rural Industrialisation – perspective� (in M. Soundarapandian ed. Rural Industries in Inda- Mohit Publications, New Delhi, 1999.

25. C.Thangamuthu – ‘Socio-Economic Evaluation of Teak Plantation’ (DST, Govt. of India, (mimeo), 1999.

26. C.Thangamuthu – ‘Evolution of Agrarian Relations in India’, (Annamalai University Publication, Dr.A.Ramasamy Endowment Lecture, March 1997).

27. C.Thangamuthu – ‘Status of Social Sciences in Colleges and Universities in Tamilnadu’. (Tamilnadu State Council for Science & Technology (mimeo) 1996.

28. C. Thangamuthu and P.N.P. Mohameed Sahabutheen – A Study on Fuelwood consumption pattern among rural households (The Economics Challenger, No.3, Issue 10, January-March, 2001).

29. C. Thangamuthu – A Dismal Scenerio of Primary Education: Need for Market Approach (Yojana, Vol.45, November, 2001).

30. C. Thangamuthu – Modern Economic Thinking and Recent Economic Development in India in Vinnachi Arachi Jabamalai (Ed.) India’s Times (Chennai, 2002).

31. C. Thangamuthu and P.N.P. Mohammed Sahabutheen – Fuelwood consumption pattern among rural households (Kisan World, Vol.29, No.6, June, 2002).

32. C. Thangamuthu and V. Rasi – The Girl Child – Nutritionally Deprived (Social Welfare, Vol.49, No.3, June 2002).

33. C. Thangamuthu – Trends and Issues in Industrial Development of Tamil Nadu in M. Naganathan (Ed.) Tamil Nadu Economy: Trends & Prospects (University of Madras Pub., June 2002).

Dr. S. Lakshmi

34. S.Lakshmi (1996): ‘Economic Liberalisation and Structural Reforms’, in Raj Kumar Sen (ed): Liberalisation, Adjustment and Reforms in India, Both Publications, U.P.

35. S.Lakshmi (1996): ‘FDI – Aims, Policy and Trends in India and China’, in Satyanarayanan,B, (ed.) : A Comparative Study of Foreign Direct Investment in China and India, Himalaya Publishing House, Bombay.

36. S.Lakshmi & R.Karthikeyan (1996): ‘The changing Role of Women in Economic Development’, in K.C.Roy, Hans C.Blomqvist and Iftekhar Hossain (ed) : Development that Lasts, New age Publishers, Madras.

37. S.Lakshmi & R.Karthikeyan (1996): ‘The changing Role of Women in Economic Development’, in K.C.Roy, Hans C.Blomqvist and Iftekhar Hossain (ed) : Development that Lasts, New age Publishers, Madras.

38. K.Thiruvenkatachari & S.Lakshmi (2000): ‘Changing Role of Gender in Economic Theory’, in Anita Banerji and Raj Kumar Sen (ed): Women and Economic Development, Deep & Deep Publications Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.

39. S.Lakshmi (2000): ‘A Study on the Occupational Distribution of Women Workers in Tiruchirappalli District of Tamilnadu’, in Anita Banerji and Raj Kumar Sen (ed) : Women and Economic Development, Deep & Deep Publications Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.

40. International Seminar on “Tourism and Economic Development�, IIDS, conducted by department of Economics, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Orissa (4.6.97 to 7.6.97) – Tourism and Environment.

41. Fourth International Conference on Development and Future Studies at Bangi, Malaysia (2.9.97 to 4.9.97) – Human Development with Particular Reference to Rural Women’s Health.

Dr. S. Iyyam Pillai

42. S.Iyyampillai – ‘Issues in Irrigation in India’, Ed. By G.Subramanian, School of economics, M.K.University, Madurai, July 1999.

43. S.Iyyampillai – ‘Trends and Structural Changes in Indian Railways’, The IndianEconomic Journal, Dec. 1997.

44. S.Iyyampillai – ‘Education to Women: Investment or ornament’, Social Welfare, June 1988.

45. S.Iyyampillai – ‘Non farm employment in Tamilnadu’, Political Economy Journal of India, July Dec. 1997.

46. S.Iyyampillai – ‘Intra SAARC Trade’, Employment news, 24, May 1997.

47. S.Iyyampillai – ‘Plight of Srilankan Refugees’, Soicial Welfare, Dec. 1996.

48. S.Iyyampillai – ‘Economic Analysis of Marketing (Book Review) in Political Economy Journal of India’, 1996.

49. S.Iyyampillai – ‘Positon of Tamilnadu in Irrigation Aspects’, Southern Economist, January 1996.

50. S. Iyyampillai – ‘Status Inside and Outside the Home’, Co-related, Social Welfare, Vol.48, No.8, November 2001.

51. S. Iyyampillai – ‘Determinants of Non-farm Employment’ Ed. by M.Koteswara Rao, Deep & Deep Publication, New Delhi, 2000.

52. S. Iyyampillai – ‘Socio-economic and Political Dimensions of Corruption’, Ed. Narasimha Reddy, Deep & Deep Publication, New Delhi, 2001.

53. S. Iyyampillai – ‘Market Expansion and Rural Development’, NKC Centre for Development Studies, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, 2002.

Dr. M. Ravichandran

54. M.Ravichandran and C.Balasundaram (1996), ‘Economics of Biodiversity: Some Methodological issues’, Productivity 37(1) : 143.

55. Poongodi R and M.Ravichandran (1996) ‘Economics of Power Consumption: A Scenario at the District level’, Southern Economist, October 15.

56. M.Ravichandran (1996), ‘Economics of Biodiversity’ in New Frontiers in Education, XXVI (3): 273.

57. M.V.Nadkarni and M.Ravichandran (1997), ‘Economics of Pollution Abatement’ in Natural Resource Economics of India: A guide book for researchers and policy makers (Ker.J.M and D.Marothia (ed.) Oxford & IBH Publishers, New Delhi.

58. M.Ravichandran, M.Uma and C.Balasundaram (1997), ‘Environmental care at the household level’, Kurukshetra, XLV (4&5):87.

59. Ravichandran M and R.Dhanraj (1997) ‘Economic Implications of Industrial Pollution Control’, Productivity 37 (4): 599.

60. M.Ravichandran (1999), ‘Regulatory versus Market Incentive Approach to Industrial Pollution control’, Productivity 39(4).

61. M.Ravichandran and R.Poongudi (1999) ‘Economics of Urban Solid waste management’, Nagarlok, Vo.XXXI, No.2.

62. M.Ravichandran and S.Boopathi, (1999), ‘Sustainability of grazing, Pasture lands and Livestock in Tamilnadu’ in Emerging issues in Indian Agriculture, G.Subramaniyan et.al (ed.) Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai.

63. M.Ravichandran and C.Balasundaram (2000), ‘Economics of drinking water supply in rural Tamilnadu: A case study’, Indian Journal of Environmental Science, Vol.4, No.1.

64. M.Ravichandran and Durgadevi C, (2000), ‘ Industrial Pollution control in Distilleries: A case study’, in Productivity (paper accepted for publication).

65. S. Boopathi and M. Ravichandran, (2001), Urban Housing: A Crucial Social Sector Problem, nagarlok, Vol.XXXIII, Jan.-March.

66. M. Ravichandran, C. Balasundaram and S. Boopathi, (2002), ‘Ecology of Drinking Water – An over view’, Indian Journal of Environmental Sciences, 6(1).

Dr. N. Manimekalai

67. N.Manimekalai (1998), ‘Gem Cutting and Rural Entrepreneurship Development’, Kurkshetra, Feb.

68. N.Manimekalai (1998), ‘Entrepreneurship Development in Industrial Estates’, Southern Economist, Vol.3, No.2.

69. N.Manimekalai(1998), ‘FDI flows and Economic Development’, Indian Economic Journal, Dec.

70. N.Manimekalai (1998), ‘Performance of Khadi and Village Industries in Tamilnadu’, Khadi Gramodyog, May.

71. N.Manimekalai and R.Kunjammal (1998), ‘Child Labour in Tiruchy District-an Overview’, Peninsular Economist, Vol.10, No.2.

72. N.Manimekalai and A.Manivel (1998), ‘Performance of Oil Seeds Production in Tiruchy District’, Peninsular Economist, Vol.10, No.2.

73. N.Manimekalai and A.Mohamed Abduallah (1998), ‘Integrated rural development Programmes in Tiruchirappalli’ Peninsular Economist, Vol. 10, No.2.

74. N.Manimekalai (1996), ‘India-China Socio-economic Background Compared’ in B.Satyanarayana (ed.), ‘A Comparative study of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in China and India – Problems and Perspectives’ Himalaya Publishing House, New Delhi.

75. N.Manimekalai (1999), ‘Nature and Charateristics of Women Entrepreneurs in India’ in M.Soundarapandiyan (ed.), ‘Women Entrepreneurship – Issues and Strategies’, Asish Publishing House, New Delhi.

76. N.Manimekalai (1999), ‘ Rural Women Beneficiaries of DWCRA Scheme’ Kurkshetra, Vol.47, No.9, June. PP.3-6.

77. N.Manimekalai and R.Thirunavukkarasu (1999), ‘Impact of Borewell Irrigation in Pudukotai District’, Kisan World ,Vol.26, No. 5, PP37-40, March.

78. N.Manimekalai and R.Kunjammal (1999), ‘ Rag Pickers in Pudukottai,’ Social Welfare, Vol. 46,. No.8, Nov. 1999.

79. N.Manimekalai and A.Manivel (1999-2000), ‘Trends in Food grains Areas, Production and Productivity in South Arcot,’. Peninsular Economist, Vol.II, No.1&2 PP.151-158.

80. N.Manimekalai (2000) ‘NGO’s Intervention through Micro-Credit for Self-Help Women Groups in Rural Tamil Nadu’ in (ed) Kamta Prasad, NGOs and Socio-Economic Development, Deep and Deep Publications, New Delhi.

81. N.Manimekalai and G.Rajeswari (2000), ‘Women Entrepreneurship in Tiruchirappali District’ SEDME, June 2000.

82. N.Manimekalai and Chellam Balasundaram (2000), ‘Threats and Challenges of Green House Effect’, productivity, Vol. No.

83. N.Manimekalai and G.Rajewsari (2000) ‘Women Empowernment through Self Help Groups (SHGs)’, MARGIN, Vol. No.

84. N.Manimekalai (2000) - ‘ Gender and Employment in India’ (Book Review), in Journal of Social and Economic Development (in Press).

85. N. Manimekalai (1996), ‘Indo-China Socio-economic Background Compared in (Ed.) B. Satyanarayana, “A comparative study of FDI in China and India – Problems and perspective�, Himalaya Publishing House, New Delhi.

86. N. Manimekalai and Rajeswari (2002), ‘Grass roots Entrepreneorship through self help groups (SHGs), Vol.29, No.2, June.

87. N. Manimekalai (2002), ‘A Comparative Study of Working Women and Housewives’, Social Welfare, Vol.49, No.5, August 2002.

Dr. V. Backiyavathi

88. M.Selvam and V.Backiyavathi, ‘Housing Finance in India – Role of LIC Housing Finance Limited’ Financial Service – Emerging Trends (Ed) Vankaiah .V and Chandraiah.E. Delhi Publishing House, Delhi, 1997, pp 184-193.

89. V.Backiyavathi, ‘Need for Information Technology in Banks’, (National Conference on Recent Trends in Software and Information Management Spheres, 1999, Tiruchy.

90. V.Backiyavathi, ‘Status of History course in distance Mode’ : An Evaluation (UGC Seminar on Contemporary Relevance of History: An Evaluation of curriculam and Examination, 1999, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchy).

91. V.Backiyavathi, Rural Development and Educational-Technology ‘National Conference an Educational Technology’, 2000, Accepted for publication in Tamil University, Thanjavur.

92. V. Backiyavathi, ‘Evaluation of Performance of students B.A. Economics in Bharathidasan University’, Published by Tamil Nadu State Council for a Higher Education, Chennai, 2000.

93. V. Backiyavathi, ‘Human Resource Development and Distance Education’, Published by Osmania Institute of Social Science, Hyderabad, 2001.

Research funding generated