Dr Usha Jayachandran

Lead Author and Editor of the forthcoming Maharashtra Human Development Report , Development Consultant (Freelance)

Mumbai, Maharashtra

I am a Development Economist trained under the guidance of Prof Jean Dreze and have a PhD in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics. Proficiency in research tools, analysis and writing are my forte and I have vast experience in the same. I specialise in human development related issues with a niche interest in child labour and primary education and have worked with primary and secondary data

Contact Dr Usha Jayachandran
Area of Expertise:
  • Social, Gender, Education, Youth, Child
Professional Experience:

Have worked as a Development Consultant with various UN organisations and NGOs in the field of child labour, primary education and human development. My last assignment was as Lead Author and Editor of the forthcoming Maharashtra Human Development Report.
Also worked with the UNICEF Mumbai office as a Consultant with active involvement in programme planning, monitoring and implementation of child labour related interventions in Maharashtra.
Specific focus on the issue of child labour in powerlooms in identified project areas (Bhiwandi and Malegaon)
Evolution and establishment of child tracking mechanisms to protect child rights in identified project areas of Amravati district.

Education:

PhD in Economics under the supervision of Prof. Jean Dreze and Prof Badal Mukherji. Research Topic- “ Socio-Economic Analysis of Elementary Education in India” from the Delhi School of Economics.
The research for the thesis investigates the reasons for low rates of participation in education at the elementary level in rural and urban India alongwith the related issue of child labour. Data from the 1961-1991 Censuses and the 52nd Round of the National Sample Survey are used for this purpose. The findings from the secondary data are cross-checked with field based case-studies in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh to study the various socio-economic and other reasons that lead to low rates of school attendance and high rates of work force participation by children in the 5-14 age-group.

M.Phil in Economics, Delhi School of Economics, under Prof. Jean Dreze. Completed the Mphil in a duration of less than two years which is considered creditable by the Delhi School standards.
MSc in Quantitative Development Economics, University of Warwick, U.K. Was awarded the ODASS scholarship by the Association of Commonwealth Universities for the same. Topped the Class with distinction in all subjects.
Masters in Economics, Delhi School of Economics
Undergraduation in Economics, Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi. Stood first in College in all the three years of my Bachelors.

Affiliations and Achievements:

Awards received

Stood first in the MSC at Warwick University and got a distinction in all the courses taken, aggregating to 72%. Was awarded the “Shiv Nath Award” for best academic performance in the MSC.
Was awarded the “Geeta Chopra Memorial Award” for all round proficiency during my Bachelors at the Jesus and Mary College.

Research Papers/Publications

“How High are drop out rates in India?” Discuaaion Paper, Economic and Political Weekly, March 17th, 2007

“Education : Lessons Emerging from the State Human Development Reports”, December 2004, UNDP, New Delhi

“Prevention and Rehabilitation of Child Labour in Abattoirs in Parbhani, A Study of the UNICEF, SETU, Municipal Corporation of Parbhani Project”, November 2004, UNICEF Mumbai

“Socio-Economic Determinants of School Attendance in India”, Working Paper No. 103, Centre for Development Economics, Delhi School of Economics, Delhi.

“Case- Studies : School Competency Development through School Community Partnerships” , Dr. Reddy’s Foundation for Human and Social Development, January 2002

“Elimination of child work with special accent on the girl child”, Research paper, Dr. Reddy’s Foundation for Human and Social Development, October 2001

“Understanding School Attendance and Work Force Participation by Children (5-14 years) in India” Journal of Educational Planning and Administration, NIEPA, New Delhi

“Taking schools to the children – Vidhayak Sansad’s Bhonga Shalas, A Unique Experiment in Primary Schooling”, Economic and Political Weekly, 1st September 2001.

“The Vidhayak Sansad Bhonga Shala Experiment – Bringing Schools to Tribal Migrant Childran, A Case-Study”, UNDP, December 1999.

“Understanding School Attendance and Work Participation by Children (5-14 years) in India”, Report for UNDP, December 1998.

Consultant for the publication of “Income Poverty and Beyond –Human Development in India”, UNDP, 1999

Contributed a paper on “Primary Schooling in India” for a project funded by CIDA in February 1997.

Research paper submitted to the Department of Economics, Delhi School of Economics titled “Primary Education in India” as a partial requirement for a degree of M.Phil in Economics, February 1996.

Research paper submitted to the Department of Economics, University of Warwick, UK, titled “A Cointegration Analysis of the Demand for Money in India and Malaysia”, as a partial requirement for an MSc in Quantitative Development Economics, September 1995.

Available for:

  • Consulting assignments

Years of Experience:

10-15 years

Highest Qualification:

Doctorate

Languages:

English, Hindi, Tamil

Nationality:

Indian

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