MAHE Dubai's very own faculty, Dr. Ruchika Ranwa, in collaboration with Dr. Suruchi Thapar-Björkert from the Department of Government at Uppsala University, Sweden, has co-authored a significant research paper titled "Aiding AIDS: Fallouts of a Social Protection Scheme in India." 

Published in the Scopus-indexed (Q2) journal 'Development in Practice,’ it explores the unforeseen consequences of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) scheme, revealing a troubling rise in AIDS cases in rural India linked to the program.

The paper investigates migration from Udaisarai to Bombay for work amid HIV-related deaths, exposing MNREGA flaws like inadequate employment, delayed payments, caste discrimination, and corruption. Economic gains overshadow social risks, leaving women and children dependent on migrant income. It proposes enhancing MNREGA through increased women's employment to reduce reliance on male remittances and empower households, especially among Udaisarai migrants at heightened HIV risk.

The faculty and staff extend heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Ruchika for her remarkable contribution to this critical field of study. Dr. Ruchika's research, in collaboration with Dr. Suruchi Thapar-Björkert, sheds light on significant public health challenges, exemplifying the impactful and extensive academic contributions fostered within our institution.We are incredibly proud of Dr. Ruchika's achievements and look forward to her continued success in advancing knowledge and creating positive change.

The paper can be accessed through the link below for reading:

https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/XSYBT7YM5QZ7Q55WYMTX/full?target=10.1080/09614524.2024.2358313