India’s New Middle Classes – Friends of progress or a Political mall-rats?

India’s New Middle Classes – Friends of progress or a Political mall-rats?

A Conversational blog written and edited by Duncan Green

One of the topics that kept coming up during my recent trip with Oxfam India was the role of the rising middle classes. We had a great debate with Aseem Prakash from Jindal University, who is in the middle of a paper on this (I’ll link when it’s published). According to Aseem, different definitions yield numbers for India’s middle classes ranging from 5 million ($10-$20 per day) to 214 million ($2-$4 a day). What’s not disputed, however, is that the numbers are rising rapidly as India’s economy continues to boom.

Click here to read more

Click here to read a post on the same topic by Bipasha Majumder, Communications Officer, Mumbai

Click here to read Duncan's previous blog on ‘Bricifying’ international NGOs is hard work

I spent last week trying to understand an intriguing experiment. About five years ago, Oxfam GB’s ‘white men in shorts’ left India, along with all the other Oxfam affiliates, and a new, completely Indian-run Oxfam India took over. All part of ‘Bricification’ within the Oxfam family (there’s an Oxfam Brazil in the pipeline too).


Others

Find out how Oxfam India is enabling communities by working to provide a life of dignity and equal opportunity for all.Get to know more about Oxfam India`s latest projects.

Read More

Related Stories

Women Livelihood

02 Mar, 2023

S 24 Parganas, West Bengal

Sonali Neye: Public Heath Champion

Sonali Neye is our public health champion from Bipradaspur village in Gosaba block in South 24 Parganas.

Read More

Women Livelihood

27 Feb, 2023

Kalahandi, Odisha

From Resource Centre To A Business Hub

What started as a Resource Centre for information dissemination in Manikera village in Kalahandi has now become a business hub!

Read More

Women Livelihood

27 Feb, 2023

Koraput, Odisha

Adi Burudi: A President, Farmer and An Inspiration

Once a mono cropper and earning about Rs 20000 annually until a year ago, Adi Burudi now has expanded her scope and avenues of farming and making profits of nearly Rs 35000.

Read More

Women Livelihood

22 Feb, 2023

Sitamarhi, Bihar

Cash Nudge for Divya Devi

It wasn't always easy for Divya Devi and Kamod to provide for their family.

Read More