In Search of Economic Alternatives for Gender and Social Justice: Voices from India

How can we shape an alternative economic and gender just development process? This report is a collection of Indian voices in the form of short essays on economic alternatives for gender and social justice which challenge mainstream economic thinking, search for macroeconomic and macro-political solutions to pressing problems, and develop conceptual and practical alternatives in local contexts and everyday life. The contributions do not only suggest new and alternative ideas to take care of sustainable development, social and gender justice in the context of the EU-India relations but, at the same time, provide some general guiding principles and building blocks for shaping an alternative agenda for economic, social and gender just development. They redefine growth towards an inclusive, employment-oriented strategy and highlight the importance of coherent trade, finance, economic, labour and social policies which give preference to redistribution and development objectives. Four core cross-cutting elements are identified: organising of those who are poor in terms of resources, voice and power; the important role of the community and its control over the economy and resources challenging neoliberal policies and the important role of the public sector; and economic and social security.