About the Book State of India's Livelihoods Report (SOIL Report) is an annual publication that addresses contemporary issues in the livelihoods sector. It is the only document that aggregates the experiences and challenges of the sector, analyses case studies and reports progress of both government-run and privately run programmes. This volume of the report provides an overview and analyses the policies and funding framework through an examination of budget allocations, new policy pronouncements, large programmes initiated and reviews how legislative efforts have a bearing on livelihoods. Four flagship programmes have been taken up for an assessment of performance, among which the dairy sector has been examined in some depth as it provides substantial livelihood opportunities to vulnerable households. This sector covers the topical theme of skill development in the country. Non-farm sector livelihoods, especially in handloom, handicrafts and village industries have also been reviewed. The aftermath of the introduction of corporate social responsibility (CSR) obligations and private-sector engagements with livelihoods has also been examined in this report. As its regular feature, this report takes stock of the ongoing and emerging policy initiatives of the Government of India that are in various stages of formulation and adoption.
Srinivasan, Girija: - Girija Srinivasan is an expert in development finance and rural livelihoods with more than 30 years of extensive experience of development banking, consulting, technical assistance and studies. After an initial career as a development banker for 14 years, she had taken to consulting working with a wide variety of international and national organisations. She has authored books and documents on community-based approaches in development finance and livelihoods. She has authored the Social Performance Report in Microfinance for four years, from 2011 to 2014. She authored the SOIL Report 2015 and 2016 jointly with N. Srinivasan. She serves on the board of FWWB and industry forums on themes of livelihoods and development finance.
Srinivasan, N.: - N. Srinivasan had been a central banker and development banker for 30 years (in Reserve Bank of India and NABARD). He is a student of economics, with development economics as a special interest. After three decades of career as a development banker, over the last ten years, he has been involved in design, supervision and evaluation of policy, strategy and implementation of several development finance and rural livelihood initiative and building institutions in India and abroad. His areas of interest are vulnerable and rural livelihoods, development banking, financial inclusion and social entrepreneurship. He has authored the Microfinance India State of the Sector Reports for four years (2008 to 2011) which are regarded as reference material for the sector. He has jointly authored, with Girija Srinivasan, the State of India's Livelihoods report for the years 2015, 2016 and 2017 besides contributing to many other books as a joint author. He currently serves as an independent director on the board of Equitas Small Finance Bank, Samunnati Finance and a couple of trusts. He is also advises industry bodies dealing with microfinance and rural finance. As an international development finance and livelihoods expert, he serves as a consultant and advisor to World Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, GIZ, KFW, NABARD, SIDBI, Microsave and other institutions. Collection of coins, music, cricket and badminton are his pastime pursuits.
